Cougars eyes strong response

Assistant coach Carter Rigby said the team has learned from the experience but understands there’s little time to dwell on it.

“It’s unfortunate that we let those two points slide for sure,” Rigby said. “It’s a learning lesson for our group. We got to move on.”

Despite the setback, Rigby believes the solution is simple.

“I think it’s just working hard every day, coming to the rink with an attitude to get better,” he said.

With Tri-City arriving following a long bus trip, Rigby says the Cougars need to establish themselves early.

“We’ve got to get up on our toes,” he said. “We’ve got to make this place rocking for sure.”

Forward Jack Finnegan echoed that message, emphasizing the importance of dictating play from the opening faceoff.

“I think just get on pucks hard and play a hard start,” Finnegan said.

The Americans, meanwhile, are hoping to improve their road play and understand they’ll be facing a motivated Prince George squad.

Defencemen Aiden Bouchard said Tri-City’s success will depend on getting back to the style that works best for them.

“Just going back to how we play,” Bouchard said. “We’re a heavy forechecking team. We work hard. Just going back to the basics, kind of not trying to get too cute.”

Bouchard is expecting a physical and competitive contest between two teams still trying to establish consistency.

“I think it’s going to be really competitive,” he said. “I know they’re a hard-working team. They play physical, so we’re going to try and match that intensity and try and come up with two points.”

Americans head coach Jody Hull expects the Cougars to come out with urgency after losing a late lead in their last game.

“I think P.G. is going to come out pretty desperate considering their last couple of games,” Hull said.

To counter that, Hull says his team must be ready from the opening puck drop.

“We have to bring energy right off the start,” he said. “We have to get pucks in deep, get them behind their defense and try to play the goal line a little bit.”

With two teams looking to find their footing, tonight’s matchup could come down to which club establishes its game first and maintains it for a full 60 minutes.

by Stephen Lewyta

Cougars eyes strong response

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