After taking it on the chin 9-2 Friday in Spokane, things didn’t get much better for the Prince George Cougars Saturday in Tri-City, dropping a 6-1 decision to the Americans.
The game was decided early as the Americans raced out to a 5-0 lead after one period chasing starting goaltender Isaiah DiLaura, who stopped just nine of 14 shots.
“We are looking at these last few games, we are getting scored upon on the first or second shot of the games. Tonight, Isaiah he battled, but at the end of the day, three of them can’t go in,” said Cougars Associate Head Coach Steve O’Rourke on 94.3 the GOAT‘s post-game show.
FINAL:
6-1 @TCAmericans
Shots: 30-20 Americans
PP: Cougars 0/3 Americans 0/3#WHL #TCvsPG— PG Cougars (@PGCougars) February 25, 2018
Tavin Grant blocked 15 of 16 over the final 40 minutes as Tri-City outshot PG, 30-20.
It was the 13th consecutive game that the Cougars failed to score the first goal.
“No one is going to feel sorry for us. We got to do our details. Tonight, the first period our details weren’t good enough. We didn’t finish enough checks, we didn’t get pucks deep, we didn’t stop and start,” stated O’Rourke.
19-year-old defenceman Juuso Välimäki was the first star with a hat-trick and a plus-four rating (+4).
Ryan Schoettler ruined Warm Beck’s shutout bid with a goal late in the second period.
Both teams went zero-for-three (0/3) on the power play.
FINAL: @PGCougars (1) at @TCAmericans (6)
SCORING ? | https://t.co/hYcQU7070R#TCvsPG
— The WHL (@TheWHL) February 25, 2018
Prince George went 1-3 on the four-game road trip.
The Cougars have lost 14 of their last 17 games to fall near the bottom of the overall standings in the WHL.
“A big part of it (the slide) is turnovers,” said O’Rourke.
They sit 20th out of 22 teams, three points ahead of Calgary and four up on Edmonton.
The (20-33-4-4) Cougars host the BC Division-leading Kelowna Rockets on Tuesday and Wednesday.
They also entertain the Victoria Royals on Friday and Saturday.
In other WHL action, Kelowna clinched a playoff spot after a 6-5 victory over Kamloops and Portland edged Victoria, 3-2.
WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE:
BC DIVISION STANDINGS
Kelowna, 62 games = 38-18-4-2 (82 points)
Victoria, 63 games = 35-23-3-2Â (75 points)
Vancouver, 60 games = 31-21-5-3 (70 points)
Kamloops, 63 games = 27-31-1-4 (59 points)
Prince George, 61 games = 20-33-4-4 (48 points)
WESTERN CONFERENCE WILD CARD
Tri-City, 61 games = 32-21-7-1 (72 points)
Seattle, 61 games = 28-24-7-2 (65 points)
Kamloops, 63 games = 27-31-1-4 (59 points)
Prince George, 61 games = 20-33-4-4 (48 points)