Seattle Takes First Game At CN Centre 5-4

By 250 News

The Cougars had three leads Friday night and Seattle had two in their clash at CN Centre.  But it was the Thunderbirds second advantage that stood up in a 5-4 victory over the Cougars to open a weekend doubleheader in Prince George.

The Cougars were looking to extend their four game winning streak, carrying a 15-10-2-0 record into their second meeting with the Thunderbirds.  The T-Birds had lost three straight games, sitting third in the US Division at 11-8-3-4.  For the fifth straight game, the Cougars opened the scoring when James Dobrowolski took a rebound off the end boards from a point shot from Martin Marincin and beat Calvin Pickard at 10:05.  The goal came just five seconds into a power play for Dobrowolski's sixth of the season.  Sena Acolatse and Brett Connolly were credited with the assists.  Seattle came back at 12:44 when Travis Bobbee scored from the right wing past James Priestner for his fourth goal of the season to tie the game at 1.  But the Cougars responded when Acolatse fired a right wing shot that went off the blocker hand of Pickard, into the body of Connolly and bounced into the open goal.  For Connolly, that's his 22nd goal of the season, with Taylor Stefishen also getting an assist along with Acolatse.  But the 2-1 Cougars lead didn't last long.  Just three minutes later, Colin Jacobs fired home his 11th goal of the year at 16:36 to tie the game at two, which is how it stood through 20 minutes.  Both teams had 15 shots in the frame.

The Cougars would get the lead back just 1:59 into the second period, when Nick Buonassisi raced through centre and burst in alone on Pickard, beating the Seattle goalie blocker side for his 11th goal of the year and a 3-2 Cougars lead.  But 16 seconds later, Jacobs would get his second of the game to tie the score at three, scoring from the left wing corner.  Seattle would then get a late goal from Tyler Alos at 18:11, his third marker of the year to put the Thunderbirds up 4-3 through 40 minutes.  Seattle out-shot Prince George 11-8 in the second period.

In the third frame, the Cougars would find the scoreboard again.  Dobrowolski lifted a high shot over Pickard for his second goal of the game and seventh of the year at 1:10 to knot the game at four.  Stefishen and Connolly would get the assists.  But the Thunderbirds would finish the scoring at 6:48, when Alos stole the puck from Priestner behind the Cougars goal and fed Jacobs in front of the net, who buried his hat trick goal and 13th of the season for a 5-4 Seattle lead and eventual win.  The Cougars directed 17 shots in the third period for 40 in the game, while Seattle had seven for 33.  The Cougars went 1-for-5 on the power play, but could not score on a 30 second 5-on-3 power play in the third frame.  Seattle went 0-for-4.

The Cougars and Thunderbirds meet again Saturday night at CN Centre, starting at 7:00pm at CN Centre.  The Salvation Army is collecting toys for children from infant to 17 years old on the concourse during the game.  Tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster at 250-564-5585.

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