Cougars Fall 7-3 In Kelowna

By 250 News

The Prince George Cougars opened a weekend road trip with a 7-3 loss in Kelowna Friday night, the team's final trip to Prospera Place this 2010-11 season.

The Cougars were looking to up their winning streak to three and bring and end to a five game losing streak to Kelowna.  The Rockets, who entered the game three points ahead of the Cougars for second in the BC division, were on a four game winning streak.  The Cougars were looking for a quick start, but unfortunately the Rockets earned that just 23 seconds into the game.  On a Cougars turnover, Colton Sissons snapped a shot past James Priestner on the glove side to give the hosts an early 1-0 lead.  Then at 1:55, Shane McColgan scored on a delayed Cougars penalty call for a 2-0 Rockets lead.  The Rockets would add to their cushion at 6:09 when Geordie Wudrick poked home a loose puck in the crease, giving the Rockets a 3-0 lead.  The Cougars would cut into the deficit on the power play at 15:13, when Martin Marincin let a one-time shot fly from the right point that beat Adam Brown on the blocker side for Marincin's 12th goal of the year.  Cody Carlson and Charles Inglis drew helpers, with the goal coming just three seconds into the power play on a face-off win.  The shots were even at 10 a side.

Kevin Smith put the Rockets back up by three in the second period at the 7:38 mark, ending Priestner's night after blocking eight of 12 shots.  Just under four minutes later the Cougars cut the deficit back to two, when Troy Bourke jumped out of the penalty box and was sprung in alone on a pass from Greg Fraser.  Bourke beat Brown through the legs for his 12th goal of the season, cutting the Rockets lead to 4-2.  But at 18:07, Evan Bloodoff took off on a breakaway from his own zone and beat Ty Rimmer blocker side to give Kelowna a 5-2 lead heading into the intermission.  The shots were tied at 9 in the period and 19 through 40 minutes.

The Rockets put the game out of reach with a pair of goals in the third frame.  Zach Franko scored at 4:25 and Cody Chikie scored four minutes later to put the Rockets ahead 7-2.  Although Brock Hirsche scored a late short handed goal by ripping a shot over Brown's glove hand, it was too little, too late, with the Rockets taking a 7-3 victory.  Jaroslav Vlach and Sena Acolatse drew helpers on the Hirsche goal.  The Cougars out-shot the Rockets 9-7 in the third period for a 28-26 decision in the game.  The one silver lining for the Cougars was their penalty kill, which was 10-for-10 and had the sixth short-handed goal of the season.  The Cougars were 1-for-8.  The Cougars drop to 24-22-2-1 with the loss, while the Rockets are 28-20-0-0, now five points clear of the Cougars.

The Cougars square off with Everett on Saturday night before meeting the Rockets again next weekend at CN Centre to finish the season series.  Puck drop is 7:00pm both nights and tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster at 250-564-5585.

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