Griffen Outhouse came into Friday’s game with a .956 save percentage and 1.47 goals-against average in nine career WHL games at CN Centre.
The 20-year-old ex-Cariboo Cougar goalie from Likely, B.C. improved on those impressive numbers in leading the (28-23-1-2) Victoria Royals to a 4-1 victory over the Prince George Cougars before 2,683 fans.
Watch the highlights here.
It was the 14th consecutive loss (0-11-3) for the Cougars who have gone five weeks without a victory.
(Prince George is 0-3 since Mark Lamb replaced Richard Matvichuk behind the bench)
Outhouse made 32 saves and earned his 109th win; this moved him into sole possession of seventh all-time in WHL regular season victories.
He is now 11 wins behind Tyson Sexsmith and Corey Hirsch for most all-time.
Tanner Sidaway scored twice including the winner, shorthanded, just seven seconds into the second period.
Sidaway set a new franchise record for fastest goal to open a period.
Josh Curtis was only goal scorer for the Cats on Alumni Night.
Great to have so many @PGCougarsAlumni, along with Tim & Sharla Hirsche with us tonight! #BH10 #AlumniNight pic.twitter.com/VEt4mro5Yh
— PG Cougars (@PGCougars) February 16, 2019
“The effort was there, no doubt about that, as we threw a lot of pucks at the net but it’s the critical mistakes that is costing us,” said Cougars interim head coach and general manager Mark Lamb on the 94.3 post-game show.
“We don’t have patience in important times of the game to just stick with it and play the right way. There’s a lot of try, there’s a lot of care and a lot of frustration. Frustration is hurting us, and we have to find a way to play through it.”
Some shots from @pgcougars loss to the visiting @victoriaroyals in the first game of weekend double-header. Nice pre-game ceremony honouring PG Cougars alumni with the parents of former… https://t.co/cqcUm5fSd5
— James Doyle (@itsjdphoto) February 16, 2019
The same teams meet again tonight at CN Centre.
Victoria has won five of the six regular season meetings against Prince George.
The 16-33-4-2 Cougars are last in the Western Conference, nine points behind the (21-28-4-1) Kamloops Blazers and 12 back of the (22-27-5-1) Seattle Thunderbirds.
The Thunderbirds hold down the final wild-card playoff spot.
Prince George has 13 games left, eight of them on home ice.
The Cougars play Victoria, Everett and Kamloops three times each and Spokane and Portland twice each.
The Western Conference leading (39-13-1-2) Everett Silvertips visit Prince George Monday and Tuesday.
EDM 0 REG 4
LET 7 SC 2
BDN 5 PA 4 (OT)
MH 1 CGY 3
SAS 8 KTN 3
VIC 4 PG 1
KAM 3 TC 5
EVT 3 KEL 1
RD 4 SEA 6
SPO 4 VAN 5— The WHL (@TheWHL) February 16, 2019
SCORING SUMMARY
First Period
Royals [1-0] Tanner Sidaway (6) from Phillip Schultz and Dino Kambeitz 3:50
Second Period
Royals [2-0] Tanner Sidaway (7) from Dino Kambeitz 0:07 Short-handed
Cougars [2-1] Josh Curtis (12) from Tyson Upper and Jackson Leppard 6:22
Royals [3-1] Kaid Oliver (24) from Phillip Schultz and Kody McDonald 16:34
Third Period
Royals [4-1] Logan Doust (4) unassisted 6:46
GOALTENDING
Cougars- Taylor Gauthier (Loss) 17/21 60:00
Royals- Griffen Outhouse (win) 32/33 57:15 Brock Gould 1/1 2:45
POWER-PLAY
Cougars- 0/4
Royals- 0/5
LISTEN: @Hartley_Miller‘s Cat Scan – February 14th, 2019….featuring @Fraser_PG and @DanOConnor_VAN
| https://t.co/VyamWUjFUy #CityofPG #sports #MyWHL pic.twitter.com/wawR68KIMC— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) February 14, 2019
(All of the PG Cougars Cat Scan Podcasts can be found right here)