The Prince George Cougars (3-5-2-0) saw their first action in Edmonton this season taking on the Oil Kings (4-6-2-0) who were coming off a heart breaking OT loss. Both teams looked to gain some footing within their division with a win tonight.
This one saw a good start for the Cougars as Jared Bethune scored off of a beautiful set up play from Kody McDonald. The goal came only 45 seconds into the game. The Oil Kings struck nearly six minutes later as Andrei Pavlenko potted his third of the season and Trey Fix-Wolansky and Scott Atkinson picked up the apples. Colton Kehler buried his sixth after finding his way down the wing and snapping one past rookie goaltender Isaiah DiLaura, Kobe Mohr picking up the assist on the play giving him nnie points on the year. Shots after one finished 9-7 in favour of the home team.
Both teams seemed to settle in during the second with chances going both ways right off the hop. The Cougars knotted the game up early with a goal from draft eligible winger Jackson Leppard. The Oil Kings regained the lead only a minute after as Ethan Cap gets credited for a lob shot over everyone to beat rookie netminder Isaiah DiLaura (getting his first start). The goal was reviewed, but Ty Gerla’s stick managed to dodge the puck nine feet off the ice, meaning the goal was good. Travis Boyd tallied the equalizer off a rebound from his own shot late in the frame, and the teams headed to the third tied 3-3.
The third started at a high pace, Oil Kings scoring late to regain the league. Tomas Soustal scored shorthanded on a penalty shot to make it 4-3 Oil Kings. The Cougars again tied things up on a goal from Brogan O’Brien with 3:47 left in regulation. Overtime solved nothing, so we went to a shootout.
Oil Kings: Kehler – Miss
Cougars: Popugaev – Miss
Oil Kings: Soustal – Goal
Cougars: McDonald – Miss
Oil Kings: Koch – Miss
Cougars: Bethune –Miss
Oil Kings take the extra point in a shootout.
Game notes:
The PG Cougars D-core, while it looked young on paper- a bunch of guys stood out. In my opinion, once they fill out the fill out they will be very effective. Matthew Robertson logged a bunch of minutes, improving every game. Both Colton Kehler and Levi Kope looked solid offensively and on the puck.
