DUBNetwork Feature Game of the Night: Cougars @ Americans 7 PM PST
In one of three games in the Western Hockey League tonight, the Prince George Cougars are back in the US Division to take on the Tri-City Americans in Western Conference action.
The Prince George Cougars (13-21-1-2) had a rough month of December, but seem to have put it behind them. Their last two games have been a pleasant turnaround from what Cougars fans saw last month, beating the Kelowna Rockets in their last game in a 2-1 thriller, and falling to the Kamloops Blazers 2-1 at the tail end of a long road stretch. Taylor Gauthier has also had back-to-back stellar performances, and 15 year-old call-up Craig Armstrong has shown some promising play as he prepares for his first full season with the club next season. The Cougars are playing their fourth game of the season against the Tri-City Americans who have beat the Cougars in all three previous meetings this season.
The Tri-City Americans (20-14-1-1) are playing some excellent hockey these days with some of the best teams in the league. The Americans will face off against the Cougars for the fourth time tonight, and through those three games the Ams have combined to score 14 goals to the Cougars six. Tri-City has also been stellar at home, tossing up a 10-5-1-0 record in arguably the toughest division in the WHL. Although the Americans would have loved to get Michael Rasmussen back from the Detroit Red Wings, other players along the likes of Parker AuCoin and Nolan Yaremko have filled the void. A pleasant surprise has been Connor Bouchard, an eighth round selection in 2016, has proven to be a solid depth option and a good one in the face-off circle to boot. Prior to the Ams last game against Everett, Bouchard had four points in two games, giving the 2001-born 19 points in 36 games this season.
Who to Watch:
- Craig Armstrong (PG) 0G, 0A- Fresh off his first WHL game in Kelowna, this 2018 1st round pick looks to be a big part of the Cougars future.
- Krystof Hrabik (TC) 9G, 16A- Represented the Czech Republic at the WJC in Vancouver, played himself into a prominent role with the Czechs.
Goalies:
- Taylor Gauthier (PG)- 3.196 GAA, .900 SV%- Gauthier has been terrific in his last two starts for the Cougars, earning a combined .938 SV% in his last two starts.
- Beck Warm (TC)- 2.971 GAA, .910 SV%- Warm’s last two starts vs. EVT were nothing short of spectacular, the 19 year-old garners a .921 SV% or above in his last five starts.
Other games:
Portland Winterhawks (23-11-3-2) @ Brandon Wheat Kings (16-15-3-3)
- Only meeting of the season, Portland enters play riding a four-game winning streak.
Seattle Thunderbirds (12-20-4-0) @ Saskatoon Blades (25-12-5-0)
- Seattle looking to turn things around as their last ten games (2-7-1-0) have only posted two wins.
