Cougars Win Again, 4-3 In Shoot-Out Over Tri-City

Sunday, October 31, 2010 01:26 PM

It's been a while since the Prince George Cougars could say they knocked off the Tri-City Americans in Kennewick, Washington. But for the first time since November 2, 2003, the Cougars did just that, with a 4-3 shoot-out win over one of the Western Conference's leading teams. The Cougars were looking for back-to-back wins on the road for the second time this season and were squaring off with the Americans for the third time in eight nights, after splitting two games at CN Centre last weekend. After a 2-0 win in Seattle Friday, the Cougars opened the scoring early in the first period Saturday, with Martin Marincin scoring his seventh goal of the season, the most among all WHL defencemen, with a slap-shot from the blue-line that went off a Americans defender in front of the net over Drew Owsley, in goal for Tri-City. The power play goal came at 1:55, with Cody Carlson and Charles Inglis drawing assists. Ty Rimmer was making his second straight start for the Cougars after a brilliant 36 save shut-out performance over the Thunderbirds, but the Americans would solve Rimmer with their own power play goal, scored by Justin Feser at 9:24 to tie the game at one. But the Cougars reclaimed the lead just under five minutes later, when Brock Hirsche directed home his first goal of the season off a centering pass from Sena Acolatse, to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead through 20 minutes of play at the Toyata Centre. The Cougars out-shot the Americans 13-12 in the first period. In the second frame, the Americans got back on even terms when Jordan Messier scored at 4:11, but Spencer Asuchak, a former Americans player, scored at 5:53 for his eighth goal of the year from Inglis and Hirsche, and the Cougars were back in front, 3-2. The Cougars again out-shot the Americans 10-8 in the second period. The Cougars third lead of the game would once again be taken away, when Messier scored his second goal of the game at the five minute mark of the third period, tying the game at three. The teams were headed for overtime, just the second time this season the Cougars had played beyond 60 minutes. The Cougars were out-shot in the third 9-8, but out-shot the Americans 31-29 in regulation. There were no goals in overtime and for the first time this season, the Cougars were headed to a shoot-out. This was the third straight shoot-out game for the Americans, who won the previous two in Seattle Tuesday and Everett Friday. Acolatse and Adam Hughesman exchanged goals in the first round, but both Rimmer and Owsley stopped the next two shots, with Brett Connolly and Martin Marincin shooting for the Cougars and Patrick Holland and Feser shooting for Tri-City. Inglis went in the fourth round and scored on a forehand shot over Owsley's blocker hand, leaving the game in the balance for Messier. Messier tried to deke Rimmer to his blocker side, but Rimmer stayed with Messier to make the save and give the Cougars a 4-3 victory. Rimmer has won both his starts for the Cougars, who improve to 9-6-1-0 on the season and 6-3-1-0 on the road this season. The Americans fall to 11-4-1-1. The month of October was a good first full month for the Cougars, going 8-5-1-0 in October. The Cougars will finish the four game road trip in Kelowna Tuesday with a date against the 4-10-0-0 Rockets, who have lost three in a row. The Cougars return home to meet the Edmonton Oil Kings Friday and Saturday, starting at 7:00pm both nights at CN Centre. Tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster at 250-564-5585.
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