Cougars claw out a win
Struggling Prince George wins 3rd this season against the Rockets
Tyson Upper’s shootout goal was the difference as the Prince George Cougars defeated the Kelowna Rockets 2-1 on Friday night at Prospera Place.
Connor Bruggen-Cate scored for the Rockets while goalie James Porter — in a first-star performance — faced 28 shots. Jackson Leppard replied for the Cougars in regulation while Taylor Gauthier made 26 saves.
Both goals came on the power play.
It was a frustrating loss for the Rockets, who had come into the contest 6-2-2 in their last 10 games and painfully close to breaking through an up-and-down season.
Awaiting them was a 13-21-3 P.G. team dead last in the B.C. Division.
And, through nearly 50 minutes of play, it appeared the Rockets would continue to build on their momentum for the 5,215 fans.
Bruggen-Cate staked Kelowna to a 1-0 lead late in the second period. His power-play goal game four seconds after Joel Lakusta was sent to the box for high-sticking.
It was Bruggen-Cate’s fourth of the season and his first goal in 24 games.
Yet, when the Rockets (17-17-4) needed to put the Cougars down, they allowed P.G. to tie the game in a lopsided third period.
Leppard tied it 1-1 midway through a third period that was tilted heavily in Prince George’s favour. The Cougars outshot Kelowna 9-1 in the final frame.
As bad as the Rockets were in the third, however, they made up for it during overtime.
Lassi Thomson had the best chance when he held the puck, created some space, and then ripped into the P.G. zone down the right wing.
He snapped a quick shot that beat Gauther, but not the goal post.
It was by far the best chance of the overtime. In the shootout, Kelowna’s Ethan Ernst and P.G.’s Ethan Browne each missed on their team’s first attempts.
Nolan Foote scored a pretty goal on a backhand deke that got up and under the crossbar quickly and gave Kelowna the edge.
Vlad Mikhalchuk answered for P.G., though, with a pretty solo effort of his own.
Leif Mattson’s miss set the stage for Upper, who outwaited Porter and scored on the forehand.
This one lived up to its pregame billing: goals were going to be at a premium between two teams near the bottom of the WHL offensive totals. Kelowna and Prince George are two of three WHL teams that have yet to score 100 goals this season.
It was the Cougars’ third win of the year against the Rockets, who are on the road tonight to face the Kamloops Blazers (14-18-3).