Americans Down Cougars 7-3

By 250 News

Cougars goalie, Ty Rimmer, failing to stop a shot by Patrick Holland of the Americans

Prince George, B.C. -  A three-game win streak came to a halt Friday night for the Prince George Cougars, who were on the wrong end of a 7-3 score to the Tri-City Americans.

The Cougars were coming off a 5-3 win over Brandon Wednesday and entered the game 6-4-1-0, while the Americans were 8-3-1-0.  The teams were playing the first game of back-to-back games at CN Centre.  The Americans struck first at 4:01, as Adam Hughesman scored a power play goal to open the scoring, beating James Priestner on the gloves side.  But perhaps the goal of the early season came next, as Brett Connolly, already sporting a league-high six game goal streak, added to it with a dandy marker at 11:31.  After Patrick Holland missed a breakaway chance for the Americans, the Cougars came back the other way, with Connolly leading a 2-on-1.  With a defenceman going down, out-waited that player, going from right wing to left, then snapped a shot past Chris Driedger, the Americans goalie.  For Connolly, the goal was his 12th of the season and tied the game at one.  Cody Carlson drew the only assist on the goal.  The Cougars were out-shot 9-5.

The Cougars had plenty of chances to take the lead in the second period, but couldn't solved the Americans 16-year old goalie.  The Ams would get the only tally of the frame, when Jordan Messier re-directed a shot from Holland past Priestner at 17:01, giving Tri-City a 2-1 lead through 40 minutes of play.  The shots were 11-6 Americans in the second period and 20-11 in the game.

Unfortunately for the Cougars, the third period went downhill fast.  Justin Feser had two goals and an assist to start the final frame, also setting up Hughesman's second goal of the night to make it 5-1 Americans in a 1:35 span just 4:15 into the third.  Priestner was pulled and replaced by Ty Rimmer in goal, Rimmer's first action for the Cougars since being acquired early in the week from Brandon.  Connolly would get his second of the night on a great passing play with Taylor Stefishen, finishing off the return pass on the 2-on-1 rush for his 13th of the season, cutting the lead to 5-2.  Holland would get his 8th at 9:53, completing a five point night for a 6-2 lead, but former Americans forward Spencer Asuchak batted home his 7th goal of the season out of the air, off a rebound from Dan Gibb's right point shot at 16:10.  Martin Marincin drew an assist on the goal.  Tanner Olstad finished the scoring at 18:11 with an unassisted marker to make the final 7-3 Tri-City.  The Americans out-shot the Cougars 17-15 in the third and 37-26 in the game.  Tri-City went 1-for-3 on the power play while the Cougars were 0-for-2.

The Cougars will take a 6-5-1-0 record into Saturday's rematch, while the Americans are 9-3-1-0.  Puck drop is 7:00pm at CN Centre and Tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster at 250-564-5585.

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