Cougars get thumped by high-powered Winterhawks

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After being on a power play of their own, the Cougars committed a high-sticking penalty inside the final few minutes of the period. On the powerplay, and time winding down, Clay Hanus lined up a wrister at the top of the slot, finding its way through traffic and into the back of the net to give the Winterhawks a 2-0 lead at the end of 20 minutes.

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The Winterhawks ended the period leading in the shots department, 18-12.

Over eight minutes into the second period, the Cougars found themselves on the power play. Connor Bowie parked himself in front of Gauthier, as Ethan Samson wound up for a shot. And much like Bowie would practice when he and Gauthier were teammates, the 20-year-old got his stick on Samson’s shot and got the puck into the back of the net, narrowing the Winterhawks lead to 2-1.

But just a moments later, the Cougars were back for more. This time, it needed no redirection as Hudson Thornton put enough mustard on the shot to beat Gauthier cleanly to knot the scoreboard up 2-2.

Both goals were Bowie and Thornton’s 11th of the season.

The tie was quickly undone, however, as 40 seconds later the Winterhawks reestablished their lead off the stick of Gabe Klassen. It was the forward’s 21st of the season.

Portland added their fourth and fifth of the game off the just a few minutes later. Marcus Nguyen and Gabe Klassen both scored inside the 13th minute of the period, resulting in Cougars’ head coach Mark Lamb calling a timeout to get his team regrouped.

Shots were in favour of the Winterhawks during the middle frame, outshooting the Cougars during the period 15-8, maintaining the shooting lead 33-20 after 40 minutes.

In the third, the Winterhawks piled on the shots against Ty Young. The rookie goalie came in relief of Brennan at the start of the final period.

The mitts were dropped seven minutes into the period after Cougars’ captain Jonny Hooker collided with Cross Hanas. Hooker and Robbie Fromm-Delorme threw punches. Hooker checked on Hanas before being escorted to the bench, but was dished with both a charging and fighting penalty, as well as being handed a game misconduct.

On the powerplay, Portland found the back of the net against Young. James Stefan was creditted with the goal, marking his 26th of the season.

Klassen scored his third of the night minutes later, completing the hat trick in the eventual winning effort and extending the Winterhawks lead to 7-2.

The score stood at that as the final few minutes ticked away, giving the Winterhawks their 33rd win of the season, keeping them in a close battle for second place in the Western Conference with the Kamloops Blazers.

Portland nearly doubled up on the Cougars in shots by the end of the game, outshooting Prince George 52-27.

Prince George and Portland will be back in action on Saturday night at the CN Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.