A three-goal second period put the Tri-City Americans in the driver’s seat and they arrived at their desired destination with a 4-2 triumph over the visiting Prince George Cougars.
Goals from Krystof Hrabik, Jayden Platz and Sasha Mutala got the crowd of 3,095 buzzing at Toyota Center in Kennewick, Wash., and the Americans added to their total early in the third period when Connor Bouchard got in on the scoring action.
Down 4-1, Josh Maser made it a two-goal game with his fourth goal in the past four games, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Cougars (2-5-0-1, fifth in B.C. Division) from losing for their fifth time in eight games this season.
Filip Koffer has the other goal for the Cougars, who outshot the Americans 33-32.
Talyn Boyko, who turns 17 on Wednesday, made 31 stops as the first star for his first WHL win. Boyko was particularly sharp in the second period when the Cougars outshot the Americans 17-9. They outscored the Cats 3-1 in that period.
The Americans improved to 5-3-0-0 and they remained one point ahead of the Spokane Chiefs (4-3-1-0) to hold on to third place in the U.S. Division.
Cougars goalie Taylor Gauthier, the made 44 saves as the first star Friday in a 3-1 win in Spokane, delivered another superb effort. He blocked 28 of 32 Americans’ shots and was picked as the third star.
The Cougars will be back on home ice Friday at CN Centre to face the Spokane Chiefs in a two-game weekend set. The Saturday game against Spokane is Octoberfest Night and the Cougars Society 50/50 Mega Jackpot will pay one lucky winner a minimum $15,000.
