Prince George netminder Isaiah DiLaura kept the Cougars into the mix Saturday night in Saskatoon, making a pair of critical saves in overtime, including a pad-stacker.
His heroics forced a shootout after stopping 35 of 38 shots, but in the end, the Blades prevailed by scoring the game-winner in the seventh round, making it a 4-3 final.
Tough ending to one entertaining game. @BladesHockey take it 4-3 in the shootout. @isaiahdilaura1 much deserved 2nd
#WHL #PGvsSAS
— PG Cougars (@PGCougars) January 28, 2018
The Cougars gave up the opening goal in the first, but potted the only tally in the second courtesy of Joel Lakusta, his sixth of the season, for a 1-1 tie after 40 minutes.
A third period free-for-all started 53 seconds in as Ilijah Colina scored his second in a Prince George sweater for the 2-1 lead.
Saskatoon countered six minutes later to tie it up, Ryan Schoettler’s power-play snipe regained a one-goal advantage, but the home team rallied on a six-on-four with 40 seconds left to make it a 3-3 contest after regulation.
Colina scored the only goal for the Cats in the second round of the shootout, but no one could follow him as Prince George drops their record to 18-24-4-4, salvaging one point in the process.
FINAL: @PGCougars (3) at @BladesHockey (4) — SO
SCORING ? | https://t.co/Ok8UDKhB5p#SASvsPG
— The WHL (@TheWHL) January 28, 2018
Cougars Assistant Head Coach Steve O’Rourke praises his goaltender for not only his performance on the ice, but his level of maturity off the ice.
“It’s been a challenging year for him, but he’s the first one at practice and the last one to leave. When he’s not playing he’s the guy loading the bus, unloading the bus; he doesn’t pout, and he came in as a young man who wasn’t really ready. It’s amazing to see him get into the shape he’s in right now, and how much he’s stepped out, especially tonight.”
Prince George remains on the road in the East Division for the next four games before returning home February 9th and 10th.
They’ll face former Cougar defenceman Josh Anderson and the Swift Current Broncos Tuesday at 5PM Pacific time.
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