Cougars claw past Thunderbirds

Mount scores in 2-1 loss to Prince George

December 29, 2018 7:30 am
Thunderbirds goalie Liam Hughes reaches to make one of his 30 saves against the Cougars on Friday night. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, T-Birds
Thunderbirds goalie Liam Hughes reaches to make one of his 30 saves against the Cougars on Friday night. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, T-Birds

The Prince George Cougars defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 2-1 in a Western Hockey League game Friday night at the accesso ShoWare Center.

Prince George (12-19-1-2) took a 1-0 lead on Vladislav Mikhalchuk’s goal at 1:04 of the second period. Ryan Schoettler and Rhett Rhinehart had the assists.

The Cougars made it 2-0 at 10:58 of the second on Josh Maser’s goal. Ethan Browne and Mikhalchuk had the assists.

Seattle (11-17-4-0) cut the Cougars lead to one goal at 13:12 of the third period. From behind the Prince George net, Brecon Wood found Payton Mount in the high slot with a pass. Mount spun and put a wrist shot on goal that beat Prince George goalie Taylor Gauthier through the legs. It was Mount’s third goal of the season.

Seattle pulled goalie Liam Hughes for an extra attacker with 1:22 left in the third period. The T-Birds pressured but were not able to get the tying goal past Gauthier.

Prince George outshot Seattle 32-30 in the game.

Hughes had 30 saves on 32 shots while Gauthier made 29 saves on 30 shots.

Up next

The T-Birds play the Portland Winterhawks at 6:05 p.m. Saturday at the ShoWare Center. The game is being broadcast on JOEtv (Channel 22/Cable 110).

Single-game tickets are on sale online on the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare box office.

Fans who purchase the 24-flex ticket package will be able to select any available premium seat for any game, in any ticket combination, during the 2018-19 season.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – No scoring. Penalties – Leppard, PG (boarding), :58. Philp, Sea (tripping), 2:37. Harsch, Sea (roughing), 4:18. Bench, PG (too many men-served by Kohner), 6:20. Kaluski, Sea (roughing), 18:47. Toman, PG (roughing), 18:47.

Second period – 1, Prince George, Mikhalchuk 13 (Schoettler, Rhinehart), 1:04. Penalties – Bowie, PG (slashing), 2:41. Kaluski, Sea (double minor-roughing), 2:41. Kohner, PG (double minor-roughing), 2:41. Bench, Sea (too many men-served by Mount), 15:03. Harsch, Sea (roughing), 15:36.

Third period – 2, Prince George, Maser 11 (Browne, Mikhalchuk), 10:58. 3, Seattle, Mount 3 (Wood), 13:12. Penalties – Browne, PG (delay of game), 5:04. Crossley, PG (high-sticking), 11:02.

Shots on goal – Seattle 14-6-10 30, Prince George 11-14-7 32. Goalies – Seattle, Hughes 32 shots-30 saves (10-14-3-0); Prince George, Gauthier 30-29 (8-13-1-1). Power plays – Seattle 0-5; Prince George 0-4. A – 4,100. Referees – Ian Jendro, Dexter Rasmussen. Linesmen – Nick Bilko, Mark Heier.