After a disappointing result last night in Seattle, the Cougars get a quick turnaround tonight. For the first time this season, Mark Holick’s club will face the Tri-City Americans. Last season, these teams played four very close games, with the Cougars earning a 1-3 record in the process.

Overview:

Jim Hiller’s Tri-City Americans head into tonight’s game with the fifth best record in the Western Conference standings. At 28-19-1-2, the Ams hold a slight lead on the Victoria Royals for fifth and are just three points shy of fourth placed Spokane in the Western Conference standings. The Americans are 6-4 in their last 10 games but have lost two straight.

Who’s Up Front:

The undisputed offensive catalyst for Tri-City is 20-year-old forward Justin Feser. Feser leads the Americans with 66 points in 50 games, and has notched 313 career points in 329 games in the WHL (all with Tri-City). Number 22 will be a major focal point for the Americans tonight, and the Cougars will need to contain him as best as possible.

Who’s on D:

19-year-old rearguard Mitch Topping leads the way for Tri-City on the backend with eight goals and 28 points through 45 games this season. Topping is joined by fellow stud defensemen Zachary Yuen and Michal Plutnar who are all very capable at contributing offensively all while keeping the door shut defensively as well.

Who’s in Goal:

The Tri-City Americans season took a drastic turn when goaltender Eric Comrie sustained a season-ending injury. This means that the bulk of the work has fallen onto the shoulders of 18-year-old Luke Lee-Knight. Lee-Knight has led the Am’s to a winning record of 7-5, but is coming off a tough weekend where he surrendered 13 goals in two games against Medicine Hat and Portland. Tri-City’s other goaltending options include: Troy Trembley and Evan Sarthou.

X-Factor:

As in most cases, special teams will likely be a major factor for the Tri-City Americans tonight. Heading into tonight’s contest, the Ams boast the sixth best power play and the sixth best penalty killing percentage. If guys like Justin Feser, Connor Rankin, Malte Stromwall, etc. get even more time and space than usual they can burn you.

Overview:

Mark Holick’s Prince George Cougars head into tonight’s game six points back of the eighth placed Seattle Thunderbirds for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. After two strong efforts last weekend against Everett, the Cougars were humbled in Seattle by the team directly above them in the standings. But a fast turnaround could be just what the doctor ordered for the Cougars who are 3-6-1-0 in their last 10 games.

Who’s Up Front:

As the Prince George Cougars continue to get used to life under new head coach Mark Holick, there are bound to be some bumps in the road. Offensively the Cougars still managed to put 30 pucks on net last night against Seattle, but they had trouble generating quality-scoring chances. Tonight it will be up to the likes of Troy Bourke and Colin Jacobs to try and bring back some of the offensive confidence that this team had a lot of last weekend with Everett.

Who’s on D:

Cougars Captain Dan Gibb continues to excel during the month of January. In a game where the Cougars surrendered six goals against, Gibb and his defense partner Raymond Grewal were even on the night. Gibb also recorded an assist, which gives him a new season high of 10 points this season.

Who’s in Goal:

Given the fact that it’s the second game of back-to-back games and that Mac Engel started Tuesday, it would seem likely that Brett Zarowny will get the nod tonight in goal for the Cougars. Zarowny has been known to steal games for the Cougars and tonight in a hostile rink in Tri-City the Cougars may need him to dig deep and lead them to victory.

X-Factor:

The Prince George Cougars need a better start in tonight’s game. The Cougars trailed 2-0 just 4:30 into the game last night, which obviously had a tough effect on the confidence of the bench. If the Cougars can start tonight’s game better, possibly score the first goal and establish themselves as a tough, hard-working road team, the results will surely be better.