Americans battle back but fall 4-3 in Prince George

Prince George, B.C.

The Tri-City Americans (20-12-5-0, 45 pts.) were playing their second of a five-game road trip on Friday night in Prince George. This was the first of four meetings with the Prince George Cougars (15-18-4-2, 36 pts.) this season. The Americans won just one of the four meetings last year between the two clubs, and they would have loved to get the first one this season. They would have to do so without the service of forwards Michael Rasmussen and Kyle Olson who are both out with injury and defenseman Juuso Välimäki who has yet to return from his time with team Finland at the World Junior Championship tournament. In the end, the shorthanded Americans would fall 4-3 to the Cougars.

The Americans came out firing and looked energized to start the first period. Tri-City sorely out-shot the Cougars 16-8. Cougars goalie Tavin Grant was able to survive the barrage, however, and keep Tri-City off the board. On the other end of the ice, Americans goalie Patrick Dea looked a bit shaky, and Prince George forward Jared Bethune took advantage of that, twice. Bethune’s first came on the power play against a very good Americans penalty kill unit. Bethune set up in the right circle and collected a cross ice pass from Prince George defenseman Dennis Cholowski and fired a shot over Dea’s shoulder. Just over two minutes later, Bethune collected his second of the game, again from the right circle, and again over Dea’s shoulder. Tri-City out shot and out chanced the Cougars all period, but Prince George had the advantage in the only place that really matters which is the scoreboard. Prince George has won 10-of-13 when leading after one period while the Americans have won only 3-of-9 when trailing after one.

 

Nolan Yaremko (Doug Love)

Tri-City wasted no time in trying to turn the tide in the second period. Just 1:41 in, forward Nolan Yaremko picked up his 13th of the season. Forward Parker Aucoin had the puck behind the Prince George net and found a streaking Yaremko in the slot, who then buried the puck over Grant’s shoulder off the bar. The Cougars, however, would regain their two goal lead later in the period. Bethune’s line would again give the Americans fits. Josh Maser picked up his 16th of the season after a Josh Anderson shot from the point bounced off the glass and out to Maser who buried the puck behind Dea who was trying to get back into position. The Americans would once again be looking to dig out of a 2-goal hole heading into the third. Tri-City held the shot advantage in the middle frame over Prince George 8-5.

Bethune was on a whole different level in this contest. He had just nine tallies headed into tonight, but would finish the night with twelve as he completed the hat trick early in the third period on the power play. Just like his first two goals, he beat Dea over the shoulder from the right circle. The Cougar power play was second to last in the league headed into tonight, but they were making the Americans seventh ranked penalty kill look amateur. On the flip side, the Americans sixth ranked power play finally connected on their fourth opportunity. Rookie forward Sasha Mutala buried his fourth of the season from the low slot off a great feed from Morgan Geekie. The Cougar lead was now back to two. The Americans would get their fifth power play opportunity just a couple minutes later after a holding the stick call against Nic Holowko. Defenseman Dylan Coghlan had the best chance on the man-advantage, but he rang his monster blast from the left point off the post. The Americans would finish the night at 1-for-5 on the man-advantage. With just around a minute left to play, the Americans did make things interesting. With Dea off for the extra attacker, the Americans had a barrage of shots on Grant. Riley Sawchuk was able to get one through on a great feed from rookie Connor Bouchard from behind the Prince George net. It was Sawchuk’s fifth of the season and it pulled Tri-City to within one. In the end though, Grant stood strong in the Prince George net, and the Cougars held on for the 4-3 victory. Grant finished the night with 34 saves on 37 shots. Dea stopped 16-of-20 for the Americans. Both teams will battle again on Saturday night in Prince George.