BY COLE WALDIE
Prince George Cougars
The Prince George Cougars suffered their second consecutive loss, falling 4-1 to the Portland Winterhawks, Monday at the Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum.
Josh Ravensbergen’s night came to an end early, allowing three goals on Portland’s first ten shots. Ty Young finished the night and was outstanding, making 19 saves on 20 Winterhawk shots. Borya Valis supplied the lone Cougar goal which came in the third period.
GOALS
1st Period
1-0 Winterhawks at 1:13 – Marcus Nguyen (2) assisted by Nate Danielson // Nate Danielson wheeled the puck into the Prince George zone, wrapped around the goal and spotted Marcus Nguyen at the right circle and fired it by Josh Ravensbergen to make it 1-0 Portland.
2-0 Winterhawks at 7:10 – Marcus Nguyen (3) assisted by Nate Danielson and Tyson Jugnauth / Nate Danielson, once again, winded his way into the Cougars’ zone and spotted Nguyen in the high-slot who then fired a one-timer by Ravensbergen to extend the lead to 2-0.
3-0 Winterhawks at 9:40 – Marek Alscher (2) assisted by Nate Danielson // Nate Danielson was able to find Marek Alscher streaking ahead at centre ice and the Czechian blue-liner got to the right circle in the Cougar zone and far glove side on Ravensbergen to make it 3-0. Ty Young relieved Ravensbergen after this goal for the remainder of the game.
3rd Period
4-0 Winterhawks at 1:47 – Marcus Nguyen (4) (PP) – assisted by Jack O’Brien and Diego Buttazzoni // On a Portland power-play, the puck was squeaking around the goal, and the puck was eventually hammered in by Nguyen who netted his first play-off hat-trick to extend the lead.
4-1 Winterhawks at 15:56 – Borya Valis (7) (PP) – assisted by Hudson Thornton and Viliam Kmec // Borya Valis received a pass at the right circle from Hudson Thornton and rifled a wrist shot past the glove of Jan Špunar to ruin the shutout bid.