Tigers Take First Game In Prince George 9-3

By 250 News

Hudson Stremmel was back in goal for the Prince George Cougars 40 playing minutes earlier than he expected to be.  Stremmel took over the Cougars goal for Kyle Jahraus after five goals in the first period did the damage to the Cougars Tuesday night, as they opened a mid-week doubleheader with a 9-3 loss to the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers.

The Tigers came into the game winners of their past three, while the Cougars were looking to snap a nine game losing streak for the second time this season.  Jahraus started in goal for Prince George for the sixth consecutive game, but his night would last only one period.  Wacey Hamilton opened the scoring for Medicine Hat at 5:23 for his 16th goal of the year.  Linden Vey notched his 16th at 9:53, followed by a goal from Matt MacKay at 15:33 on the power play for his 18th.  The Tigers added two more in the final minute, when Cole Grbavac got his second marker at 19:25 and Bretton Cameron scored his 29th goal of the season with just two seconds to go.  The Tigers out-shot the Cougars 16-11 in the first, taking a 5-0 lead into the dressing room.

The Cougars came out with more energy in the second period and got on the board with leading scorer Alex Rodgers getting his 12th goal of the season at 9:10.  Rodgers took over the puck at centre ice and came down the right wing and let a bullet wrist shot go that beat Tigers goalie Deven Dubyk high on the blocker side.  Linden Vey notched his second goal of the night short handed at 10:52 for a 6-1 Tigers lead, but Brock Hirsche scored his first goal in nine games at 15:30 to cut the lead to 6-2.  Nick Buonassisi won a race for a loose puck behind the Tigers goal and fed a pass in front of the net.  Even though Alex Rodgers missed the one timer, Hirsche got control and beat Dubyk, who had committed to the Rodgers' attempt and fell out of position.  Hirsche's goal was his 11th of the year.  But the Tigers would get their five goal lead back at 16:12 when Zdenek Okal notched his eighth of the season for a 7-2 Tigers lead.  The shots in the period were tied at 13.

In the third period, Rodgers would again score, this time short-handed.  Not only did it come on a penalty kill, it came on a 5-on-3 Tigers advantage.  Rodgers raced for the puck at centre ice and drove to the net with Mark Isherwood trying to catch him.  While Rodgers was knocked to the ice, he was able to get a shot off and with the biscuit in the pads of Dubyk, Rodgers fell into the goal, bringing the puck in with him.  The play went under review but the goal stood for the Cougars.  The goal is Rodgers' second short-handed tally and 13th of the year, both team highs.  But the Tigers would score on the same penalties.  Hamilton got his second of the night with the two-man advantage at 17:57 and Vey would finish the hat-trick at 18:24 for a 9-3 Tigers victory.  Vey completed the night with three goals and five points.  The Cougars out-shot Medicine Hat 13-11 in the third period, but the Tigers out-shot Prince George in the game 40-37.

Both teams had one short handed goal and the Cougars were 0-for-6 on the power play, which included one 5-on-3 power play.  The Tigers went 3-for-12 and 1-for-3 on two-man advantages.  The Cougars have allowed 23 power plays in the last two games, giving up 5 goals.  With the win, the Tigers take over first in the Central Division on the Calgary Hitmen, with a record of 30-15-3-5.  The Hitmen have four games in hand.  The Cougars fall to 9-38-1-1.

The two teams will collide again Wednesday night.  The Cougars will help celebrate the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, with a pair of torchbearers on hand for the opening face-off.  Puck drop is at 7:00 with Tickets available by calling Ticketmaster at 250-564-5585.

Email | Print | Facebook | Twitter | Digg | Del.icio.us