Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Cougars suffer fourth-straight loss

As losses go, this one might be a little more difficult for the Prince George Cougars to accept. Not only did they suffer a 5-2 defeat at the hands of the Tri-City Americans Saturday night in Kennewick, Wash.

As losses go, this one might be a little more difficult for the Prince George Cougars to accept.

Not only did they suffer a 5-2 defeat at the hands of the Tri-City Americans Saturday night in Kennewick, Wash., but the Cats lost starting goalie Taylor Gauthier to a leg injury that forced him out of the game late in the second period.

The Cougars outshot the Americans 41-25 but goalie Talyn Boyko stood tall in the Tri-City nets, making 39 saves for  his second win of the season. The six-foot-six native of Drumheller, Alta., also beat the Cougars Oct. 12 in Kennewick.

Goals from Samuel Huo and Sasha Mutala 50 seconds apart in the second period gave the Americans a 3-1 lead and doomed the Cougars (3-9-0-1) to their fifth-straight loss. Nick Bowman and Marc Lajoie scored into an empty net late in the game. Paycen Bjorklund opened the scoring in the first period for the Americans (7-5-0-1).

Rhett Rhinehart, with his first of the season late in the first period, and Filip Koffer, in the third period, were the Cougars goalscorers.

Tyler Brennan came in to replace Gauthier with about two minutes left in the second period and stopped all 10 shots he faced the rest of the game.

Neither team’s power play was effective. The Cougars went 0-for-7, including a full two-minute stretch of 5-on-3 time in the third period. The Americans were shut out in five opportunities.

The Cougars will be back on the ice Sunday afternoon in Langley to face the Vancouver Giants (2 p.m., The Goat 94.3 FM).