Cougars Come From Behind For Win In Vancouver

Sunday, November 14, 2010 08:12 AM

The Prince George Cougars got back in the win column the hard way, coming back from a 2-0 deficit in the third period to tie the game, then defeating the Vancouver Giants 3-2 in a shoot-out at Pacific Coliseum Saturday.

The Cougars had dropped back-to-back games, after a 4-1 loss in Kelowna Saturday. The Cougars were playing their third game against the Giants this season and first in Vancouver. The Giants won back-to-back games in Prince George to open the season series in early October. The Cougars put Ty Rimmer in goal Saturday and he had a very busy first period, facing 22 shots. The WHL’s leading goal scorer opened the scoring at 7:27, with Brendan Gallagher scoring on a 5-on-3 power play to put the Giants up 1-0. Then Matt MacKay fired home a goal at 10:03 of the first for a 2-0 Giants lead, which is how it stood after 20 minutes. The Cougars put 8 shots on Giants goalie Brendan Jensen.

The Cougars out-shot Vancouver 9-5 in the second period, but still couldn’t break through on Jensen. But in the third, the Cougars got on the board, with Taylor Stefishen scoring his fourth goal of the season. James Dobrowolski broke down the right wing and fired a pass in front that Jensen poked away from the crease, but bounced off Stefishen to the back of the net. The goal went under review after the net came off its supports on the play, but it stood to get the Cougars to within a goal. Then the Cougars came through on the power play, with Martin Marincin blasting home his eighth goal of the year. Marincin, who had an assist on the Cougars first goal, leads the team in power play scoring with five goals, with Stefishen drawing the only assist. The Cougars out-shot the Giants 15-10 in the third and were out-shot in regulation 37-32. The Cougars salvaged a point forcing overtime and were looking for the second point in the shoot-out, after a scoreless overtime that saw Prince George out-shoot Vancouver 5-2.

Craig Cunningham had the first attempt for the Giants, but lost the puck while coming in on Rimmer for no shot. However Sena Acolatse was stopped on the Cougars first attempt, shooting a rolling puck wide of the goal. After James Henry and Charles Inglis were stopped, MacKay put the Giants ahead with a goal in the third round. But Brett Connolly, who created a ton of scoring chances during the game, kept the Cougars hopes alive with a goal on Jensen’s glove side, sending the shoot-out to the fourth round. Rimmer stopped Gallagher on his attempt, putting the game in the hands of 16-year old Troy Bourke. Bourke, after a couple of moves, went to the forehand and stuck the puck in the goal for the deciding tally, to give the Cougars a 3-2 win. Prince George improves to 11-9-1-0 on the season for 23 points, second behind the Giants in the BC Division. The Cougars are also 2-and-0 in the shoot-out, with Rimmer earning both wins.

The Cougars head home for back-to-back games with Kelowna Friday and Saturday at CN Centre, starting at 7:00pm both nights. Tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster at 250-564-5585.

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