Scotty Stops Sweep

By Kelly Sharp

       Scott Bowles makes one of his 41 saves as the Cougars stay alive

          with a 3-2 overtime victory over the Vancouver Giants

Scott Bowles entered his first start since Game 1 of the second round of the WHL playoffs not thinking about putting on a stellar goaltending performance in what could have been the final game of his junior career. Well, Bowles was the show as the Prince George Cougars edged the Vancouver Giants 3-2 in overtime before a sold-out CN Centre crowd to force Game 5 in the best-of-seven Western Conference final.

The overage keeper was spectacular in turning aside 41 shots many of highlight reel quality.

“I just wanted to go out and have fun and play, whatever happens happens,” said Bowles.

He joked he already had too many grey hairs to think about standing on his head against the Giants.

Prince George opened the scoring for the first time in the series when Richard Rapac gave the Cougars a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes. Shutdown the night before, the Cats power play finally connected when Jared Walker finished off a 3-way-passing play to lift Prince George into a 2-0 lead midway through the second. The patented Vancouver pressure continued to produce quality chances on Scott Bowles until they finally solved the veteran goalie not once, but twice. Giants Kendal McArdle and Michal Repik scored 44 seconds apart for a 2-2 deadlock heading into the third period.

“It put us behind the 8-ball, but our guys never quit, never give up and we managed to get it to overtime  and find a way to win,” said Cougars head coach Drew Schoneck

Bowles was outstanding in a scoreless third and in extra time before a rare Giants breakdown forced a 2-on-1 Cougars break ending with Walker feeding Devin Setoguchi who hammered it past Sexsmith at 3:38 of overtime.

“It’s been a rough 4 games for me,” said Setoguchi. “It’s been tough they really shut us down offensively, I was getting frustrated everything I was getting a shot on they seemed to somehow make the save so it was good to get one tonight, but I need to play better.”

Scott Bowles was thankful of a short overtime; Drew Schoneck was praising his goalie.

“He came through for us huge and gave us an opportunity to win the hockey game.”

Bowles and the Cougars handed the Giants their first loss in 14 games going back to last year’s playoffs.

Prince George returns to Vancouver trailing 3-1 and needing a victory  Friday night  to force Game 6 Sunday night at CN Centre.

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