The Prince George Cougars had no shortage of inspiration when they took to the ice Saturday at CN Centre.
For the first time in along time there was a big home crowd watching them play the Kelowna Rockets with 2,554 in attendance, just 441 shy of the maximum 50 per cent capacity during these COVID times.
If that wasn’t enough to get the Cougars going, they just had to think about how uninspired they were at times in Friday’s game, a 5-2 loss to the Rockets.
The effort was certainly there in the rematch but the outcome, a 3-0 loss, was another stinging blow to the Cougars, who haven’t given their fans much to cheer about lately.
Two second-period goals was all the offence the Rockets needed to put the Cougars on the ropes, headed for their third straight loss.
Andrew Cristall collected his fourth of the season to open the scoring on a deflection. He was parked just off the post when Pavel Novak let go a quick shot from just inside the blueline and Cristall squared off for the bunt and put it in over the glove of a surprised Tyler Brennan. The video replay confirmed Cristall’s stick was not above the crossbar. That came just past the midpoint of the period.
The Rockets doubled their lead late in the period. Centre Max Graham got free just outside the crease and took a pass from behind the net from Jake Lee, who had joined the rush from his point position. It was Lee’s second assist of the game.
Rockets captain Tyson Feist capped the scoring into an open net with 2.7 seconds left.
The score probably flattered the Cougars, who had to lean a bit too much on the puck-stopping abilities of Tyler Brennan. Brennan had more work on his hands, stopping 30 or 32 shots, but Kelowna goalie Colby Knight got all the accolades that came with his 21-save shutout, the first of his seven-game WHL career.
The Rockets (8-3-0-1) continue to climb charts and now rank second in the B.C. Division, having won six of their last seven games. Kelowna is five points ahead of the Cougars (6-9-0-0) and has played three fewer games.
LOOSE PUCKS: The Cougars host a non-divisional opponent for the first time since March 2020, when the Tri-City Americans come for a visit to CN Centre Friday and Saturday… Todd Corrigall, the Prince George Chamber of Commerce president, was the big winner Saturday and claimed the $40,205 jackpot in the Cougars Mega 50-50 draw. Money raised from the draw will go to the Sprit of the North Healthcare Foundation.
