Cougars Blanked In Spokane, 3-0

By 250 Sports

The Spokane Chiefs proved Tuesday night why they have allowed the fewest amount of goals in the WHL in 2009-10.  Jared Spurgeon's second goal of the season just 1:52 into the first period proved to be the winner, as the Chiefs shut-out the Prince George Cougars 3-0.  The game was the first of four the Cougars will play in five nights and second game of a five game trip that started with a 3-2 loss in Kamloops Saturday night.

The Cougars got a welcome return on the blue line from the team's Captain, Art Bidlevskii.  Bidlevskii had missed the Cougars previous five games with an illness.  Hudson Stremmel was back in goal for the Cougars, kicking out 66 of 70 shots he faced in the previous two games.  Spurgeon's early goal was followed by another marker from a Chiefs defenceman, as Jared Cowan notched his fifth goal at 16:11.  The Chiefs took the 2-0 lead into the dressing room, out-shooting the Cougars 16-6. 

The only excitement in the second period occured with a minute and a half to play, when fighting majors were handed out to the Cougars Greg Fraser and Taylor Orser and the Chiefs Steve Kuhn and Kenton Miller.  The Chiefs held on to their 2-0 lead through 40 minutes, with the shots even at five in the middle stanza.

The Cougars out-shot the Chiefs 14-12 in the third period, but the only goal came off the stick of Tyler Johnson for Spokane at 7:20, giving the hosts a 3-0 lead and eventual victory.  Michael Tadjdeh kicked out 25 shots to record the win, while Stremmel stopped 30 of 33 shots in the loss.  The game had very few power play opportunities, with the Cougars 0-for-2, but they stopped the Chiefs only chance with the man advantage.  The Cougars record falls to 5-23-1-1 with the loss while the Chiefs go to 19-8-2-0.  The teams will face off again on February 26, also in Spokane.

The Cougars get back to action Wednesday night when they face the Western Conference's top team, the Tri-City Americans.  The Cougars will head to Everett Friday then Chilliwack Saturday to end the road trip.  The next home game for the Cougars is Friday, December 18, when they face the Kamloops Blazers.  Fans will have a chance to help support the Prince George SPCA by bringing pet supplies to the game.  The following night, the Cougars will play their final game before the Christmas break, as they face the Blazers in the annual Teddy Bear and Toque Toss night.  Puck drop for both games is 7:00.  Tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster at 250-564-5585.

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