The Prince George Cougars were undone by penalty trouble in their 4-1 loss Monday afternoon against the Everett Silvertips at the CN Centre.
The Cougars took five-straight penalties from the late stages of the first, through to midway mark of the second and the Silvertips scored twice on those five opportunities to go up 2-0 early in the second. It was a one-sided second period, as the Silvertips outshot the Cougars 23-8.
Max Patterson and Gianni Fairbrother scored power-play markers two and a half minutes apart, staking the ‘Tips out to a two-goal lead before the eight-minute mark. Reece Vitelli also scored in the second period for Everett and Jaen Price added one more in the third period.
“This game was a mixed bag, I liked a few things, but I also thought we took a few steps back in a couple of areas. Our preparation wasn’t the same as it was against Victoria and our patience wasn’t there. We need to be more engaged,” said General Manager and interim Head Coach Mark Lamb.
Tyson Upper scored the Cougars’ only goal, pulling them within one late in the middle stanza. Upper scoring his fifth goal at 17:18 to make it 2-1. That goal coming on his Great Grandmother’s 101stbirthday, who was watching from her home in Prince Albert. However, the ‘Tips answered right back.
Reece Vitelli pounced on a rebound 41-seconds after Upper scored to restore the Silvertips two-goal lead, as they took a 3-1 lead into the second intermission. Shots were 23-8 for the visitors in the middle stanza.
The Silvertips added one more goal in the third period from Price, who scored from the slot at 2:08.
The Cougars’ Mike MacLean did get into a dust up with the Silvertips’ Robbie Holmes. The two fought seven-minutes into the game after MacLean pasted Jake Christiansen in the neutral zone.
SCORING SUMMARY
First Period
No Scoring.
Second Period
Silvertips [1-0] Max Patterson (14) from Zack Andrusiak and Jake Christiansen 5:05 PP
Silvertips [2-0] Gianni Fairbrother (10) from Jake Christiansen and Max Patterson 7:42 PP
Cougars [2-1] Tyson Upper (5) from Jackson Leppard and Josh Curtis 17:18
Silvertips [3-1] Reece Vitelli (7) from Jalen Price 17:57
Third Period
Silvertips [4-1] Jalen Price (5) from Zack Andrusiak 2:08
GOALTENDING
Cougars- Isaiah DiLaura (Loss) 34/38 60:00
Silvertips– Dustin Wolf (Win) 30/31 60:00
POWER-PLAY
Cougars- 0/3
Silvertips- 2/5
UP NEXT:The Cougars (16-34-4-3) face the Silvertips again tomorrow, Feb 19th, at the CN Centre; the puck drops at 7 pm. Fans can get their tickets at the TicketsNorthby Treasure Cove Casino box office, or online at www.ticketsnorth.ca