Cougars Let Lead Slip Away In Edmonton, Fall 6-5

By 250 News

For the second consecutive visit to Rexall Place in Edmonton, the Prince George Cougars allowed a three goal lead to evaporate in the third period.  Unlike the first encounter October 11, the Cougars did not come away with a point on Tuesday.

The Cougars were looking to build off a solid weekend, which saw them take back-to-back games over the Kelowna Rockets at CN Centre.  The game in Edmonton started a five game Alberta road trip for the Cougars, who welcomed back Spencer Asuchak to the line-up after missing eight games.  Early on, it appeared they had continued their momentum.  Brett Connolly, who had just served an interferance penalty, was set up at centre by Charles Inglis and then stormed through the Oil King defence.  Connolly then fired a low shot past the blocker side of Jon Groenheyde for his 29th goal of the season at 2:49.  While Connolly increased his point streak to four, Inglis extended his to six with the first assist and Martin Marincin picked up the second helper.  The Oil Kings came back 32 seconds later on a goal by Rhett Rachinski, who beat Ty Rimmer on the blocker side.  But the Cougars roared back.  Taylor Stefishen notched his 17th goal of the season, banging home a Connolly rebound at 4:38, giving Stefishen a goal in three straight games.  Connolly and Marincin picked up the assists.  Sena Acolatse collected his 11th goal of the season when he snapped a wrist shot from the right point past Groenheyde who was screened on the shot, giving the Cougars a 3-1 lead.  Shane Pilling and James Dobrowolski earned the assists.  Dobrowolski then ripped a high wrist shot home from the right face-off circle for his 16th tally of the year at 18:23 from Stefishen to give the Cougars a 4-1 lead, out-shooting the Oil Kings 13-8 in the first.

The Oil Kings cut the lead in half at 8:31 when Adrian Van De Mosselaer beat Rimmer with a back hand to make it 4-2 Cougars.  Brock Hirsche, though, gave the Cougars a 5-2 lead at 13:12 from Cody Carlson and Josh Smith, with the latter playing his first game after missing four with a hand injury.  It was 5-2 Cougars through two periods, out-shooting Edmonton 13-8 in the middle frame.

But the Oil Kings, who had lost three straight and sat sixth in the Eastern Conference, fought back in a big way in the third.  Travis Ewanyk, Jordan Hickmott and Mike Piluso all scored to pull the hosts even.  Then with 1:33 to go, Oil Kings leading scorer Dylan Wruck swerved to the left face-off circle and ripped a perfect shot over Rimmer's glove hand to give Edmonton a 6-5 lead. Although the Cougars came close to tying the game late, the Oil Kings held on for the victory, their 25th this season.  The Cougars fall to 26-24-2-1 on the season.  The Oil Kings out-shot the Cougars 26-5 for a 43-31 advantage in the game.  The 26 shots was the most allowed by the Cougars in a period this season.  The Cougars and Oil Kings both went 0-for-3 on the power play.

The Cougars will face the Medicine Hat Tigers Wednesday, already with a 5-3 victory at The Arena this season back on October 9.  After facing Lethbridge, Calgary and Red Deer on the weekend, the Cougars return home for four games, starting with the Everett Silvertips February 18 and 19.  Tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster at 250-564-5585.

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