Cougars Drop Both Games To Everett, Fall 4-3 Saturday

By 250 News

The Cougars next meeting with the Everett Silvertips just got way bigger after the Silvertips pulled out a 4-3 victory Saturday at CN Centre, taking both games in Prince George and pulling into a sixth place tie with the Cougars in the Western Conference.

The Silvertips were 4-1 victors of Friday night and jumped out early on the Cougars Saturday, when Tyler Maxwell banged the puck home on an Everett power play at 3:35 to open the scoring.  Josh Birkholz put the visitors up 2-0 at 12:28 with a slapper from the right wing.  The Silvertips out-shot the Cougars 12-11.

Prince George cut into the lead at 8:39 of the second period when Charles Inglis snapped home his 24th goal of the season high on Kent Simpson's blocker hand.  Spencer Asuchak and Troy Bourke picked up helpers on the goal.  But 24 seconds later, Brennan Yadlowski restored the two goal lead, firing home a one-timer from the right face-off circle to make it 3-1 Everett.  The Cougars responded not long later, when Brett Connolly turned around and scored on a Cougars power play at 11:50, making it 3-2 Silvertips.  Connolly's goal is his 36th and was set up by Sena Acolatse who extended his point streak to five.  But with the teams skating at four a side, Ryan Harrison moved in alone and beat Rimmer on the glove side to make it 4-2 Everett, which is how it stood through two periods.  The Cougars out-shot Everett 8-4.

The Cougars pressed for a goal in the third and got another past Simpson when Connolly placed a perfect pass from the right wing onto the stick of Taylor Stefishen who was streaking to the goal.  Stefishen tipped home his 20th goal of the season, joining Connolly and Inglis to hit the 20 goal plateau.  Cody Carlson also picked up an assist.  Then with 6:10 to play, Inglis was slashed from behind on a breakaway and was awarded a penalty shot.  Inglis moved straight through the middle and went to the forehand, but Simpson stayed with him and forced the shot off the mark.  The Cougars could not tie the game and the Silvertips take both games at CN Centre, improving their record to 25-25-5-4, while the Cougars fall to 28-28-2-1.  The Cougars out-shot the Silvertips 12-7 in the third and 31-23 in the game and have out-shot the Silvertips in each of their three meetings, but the Silvertips have won all three.  Both teams were 1-for-4 on the power play.  The Cougars meet the Silvertips for the final time next Saturday in Everett.

The Cougars will finish the four game homestand with a pair of games with the Portland Winterhawks next Tuesday and Wednesday at CN Centre.  Both games start at 7:00pm and tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster at 250-564-5585.

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