Facing a three-goal deficit in the third period, the Prince George Cougars tried to muster whatever energy they could to try and come back against one of the top teams in the Western Hockey League.
Opportunity knocked at least four times in the final frame to put a puck past the Portland Winterhawks, but time quickly became a factor and the Cats would fall to the visitors, 3-0.
Taylor Gauthier was once again the busiest of the two netminders Tuesday night (Dec. 3), turning away 30 of 33 shots, while St. Louis Blues’ draft pick Joel Hofer recorded his third shut out of the 2019-20 season with 23 saves.
Portland posted a clean sheet by not taking any penalties in their first of four contests against Prince George in addition to Hofer’s performance.
There were only two man-advantages in the entire contest, both awarded to Cougars’ Josh Maser and Brendan Boyle.
The Winterhawks capitalized on the second power-play, that coming 7:50 into the middle stanza.
Portland scored one goal in each period of regulation; Reece Newkirk in the first, Seth Jarvis in the second and Jake Gricius in the third.
The loss drops the Cougars’ record to 6-18-0-2.
This was the first of a four-game series in six days this week with the Winterhawks.
Game two goes for tonight (Dec. 4), 7 p.m. from the CN Centre.
