In a special teams affair, the Prince George Cougars scored the final 6 goals of the game to upend the visiting Victoria Royals 8-1 Friday night.
The Cougars held period leads of 1-0 and 4-1 before the Royals fell into penalty trouble in the third.
“It definitely didn’t feel like an 8-1 game, we probably should’ve been up one or two after the first period, but we were down 1.
“In the second and third, the whole story line was special teams.” – HC/GM Dan Price
Prince George went 3 for 7 with their man advantages, collecting all three in the final frame.
Victoria was 0 for 4 on the power play, but scored a shorthanded goal courtesy of Marcus Almquist.
The Royals however lost more than just the game.
Leading scorer Jake Poole left the game early in the second period after taking an interference hit from Keaton Dowhaniuk. Forward Matthew Hodson left the game due to injury and did not return as well. Forward Marcus Almquist also took a big hit late in the game. All three will be reassessed before the Saturday rematch.
“There should’ve been a few calls made on some of the liberties the (Cougars) were taking. The calls weren’t made, and there were several called the other way…It was tough, an uphill battle and were penalty killing a lot.
“If you invert those chances, and if we have 7 power plays, and they have 3 – you probably invert the score too.”
Already without their top 2 returning scorers in Gannon Laroque and Brayden Schuurman, as well as Austin Zemlak, the club has yet to see what a full roster can do this season.
Cougars netminder Tyler Brennan’s was named the first star stopping 24 of 25 on the night, including all 16 he faced in the first and some big blocks during a Royals 5 on 3 power play in the middle frame.
Braden Holt stopped 30 of 37 before Nicholas Cristiano finished the game stopping 2 of 3.
There were two fights in the game. Royals defenseman Justin Kipkie came Poole’s aid and earned the take down in a fight with Dowhaniuk. Teydon Trembecky also earned the win against Arjun Atwal.
It was Victoria’s first visit to Prince George this season, and fall to 0-3 in the 9 game set.
The Royals fall two points back of the Rockets who hold the final playoff spot in the West. Kelowna has 4 games in hand.
The Cougars take sole possession of 6th in the Conference, after a Giants loss.
“It all comes down to the response. How strong you are mentally, physically, and how deep can you dig.
“Honestly (the rematch) is very pivotal for us. Arguably the most important game of the year so far. Not just because of what it means in the standings…but it’ll tell us a lot about of ourselves as for as the response.”
Puck drop at 6pm from Prince George Saturday night.
– Marlon Martens
Victoria Royals 1 at Prince George Cougars 8 – Status: Final
Friday, February 3, 2023 – CN Centre – Prince George, BC
Victoria 0 1 0 – 1
Prince George 1 3 4 – 8
1st Period-
1, Prince George, Brown 11 (Samson, Wheatcroft), 10:40.
Penalties-Poole Vic (cross checking), 6:13; Newman Vic (roughing), 15:35; Dowhaniuk Pg (roughing), 15:35; Samson Pg (slashing), 18:06.
2nd Period-
2, Prince George, Heidt 20 (Thornton), 0:27.
3, Victoria, Almquist 10 (Thacker), 5:52 (SH).
4, Prince George, Kmec 5 (Becher), 6:14.
5, Prince George, Wheatcroft 29 (Thornton, Heidt), 18:41.
Penalties-Kipkie Vic (unsportsmanlike cnd., major-fighting), 0:26; Dowhaniuk Pg (interference, major-fighting), 0:26; Parker Vic (tripping), 3:55; Glover Pg (slashing), 12:50; Samson Pg (delay of game), 13:28; Gannon Vic (interference), 15:36; Edwards Vic (roughing), 19:18; Thornton Pg (roughing), 19:18; Almquist Vic (slashing), 19:40; Thacker Vic (elbowing), 19:40.
3rd Period-
6, Prince George, Funk 16 (Becher, Dowhaniuk), 1:32 (PP).
7, Prince George, Thornton 12 (Heidt, Wheatcroft), 7:44 (PP).
8, Prince George, Brown 12 (Dowhaniuk, Kmec), 8:31 (PP).
9, Prince George, Ziemmer 27 (Dezainde), 14:19.
Penalties-Samson Pg (holding), 3:45; Misskey Vic (cross checking), 6:22; Almquist Vic (cross checking), 7:14; Trembecky Vic (major-fighting), 8:38; Bawa Pg (major-fighting), 8:38; Scott Vic (hooking), 11:33; Edwards Vic (roughing, roughing), 16:17; Bawa Pg (roughing, roughing), 16:17.
Shots on Goal-
Victoria 16-7-2-25.
Prince George 12-18-10-40.
Power Play Opportunities-
Victoria 0 / 3;
Prince George 3 / 7.
Goalies-
Victoria, Holt 20-17-2-1 (37 shots-30 saves); Cristiano 4-10-0-0 (3 shots-2 saves).
Prince George, Brennan 8-8-2-0 (25 shots-24 saves).
A-1,926
Referees-Mike Langin (67), Jackson Kozari (97).
Linesmen-Blair Scott (174), Tyler Garden (149).
