Cougars knock down Thunderbirds, 6-2 | WHL

The Prince George Cougars defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 6-2 in Western Hockey League play Tuesday night at the ShoWare Center.

The T-Birds have two more games before the holiday break – a home-and-home series with the Tri-City Americans, beginning Friday at the ShoWare Center and continuing Saturday in Kennewick.

Prince George (20-10-1-1) took a 1-0 lead at 6:50 of the first period on a goal from Jared Bethune.

Seattle (18-11-2-0) tied the game 1-1 at 11:53 of the first. Keegan Kolesar had the puck along the right boards. Kolesar passed the puck to Donovan Neuls coming through the slot left to right. Prince George goalie Ty Edmonds went down as Neuls came through the top of the crease. Neuls passed the puck toEthan Bear in the slot and Bear took a slap shot into an empty net. Edmonds was out of position thinking Neuls was going to shoot.

The Cougars took a 2-1 lead with 36 seconds left in the second period. Jesse Gabrielle took a shot from the left boards that Flodell stopped. Chase Witala powered around a T-Birds defenseman and poked the rebound under Flodell.

Bartek Bison scored at 4:55 of the second period to put the Cougars in front 3-1.

The Cougars made it a 4-1 lead when Jesse Gabrielle scored on a breakaway at 12:04 of the second.Harkins had the only assist the goal.

Bear cut the Prince George lead to two goals on a four-on-three power play with 45 seconds left in the second. Jarret Smith crossed the puck from the right point to Bear at the left point. Bear hesitated and then took a slap shot with Kolesar screening Edmonds. Bear’s shot beat Edmonds on the blocker side.

Gabrielle scored his second of the night at 4:35 of the third period to make it a 5- 2 Cougars lead.

Colby McAuley scored at 12:38 of the third to get the Cougars sixth goal. Luke Harrison and Tate Olson had the assists.

Prince George outshot Seattle 15-10 in the third period and 33-28 in the game.

Flodell finished with 27 saves on 33 shots and his record is now 11-7-2-0.

Edmonds stopped 26 of 28 shots and his record is now 11-5-1-0.

Tickets

Single-game tickets are available online at the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office.The ShoWare Center Box Office is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday game days at10 a.m. and Sunday game days at noon.

Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Prince George, Bethune 1(Morrison, Harkins), 6:50. 2, Seattle, Bear 10 (Neuls, Kolesar),11:53. 3, Prince George, Witala 20 (Gabrielle, Morrison), 19:24. Penalties – McAuley, PG (charging), 8:27.Kolesar, Sea (checking to the head), 16:42.

Second period – 4, Prince George, Bison 3 (Harkins), 4:33. 5, Prince George, Gabrielle 18 (Harkins),12:04. 6, Seattle, Bear 11 (Smith), 19:15 (pp). Penalties – Anderson, PG (hooking), 2:04. Osterman, Sea(major-fighting), 5:41. Anderson, PG (major-fighting), 5:41. Gabrielle, PG (double minor-roughing),14:01. Bear, Sea (roughing), 14:01. Smith, Sea (tripping), 14:50. Hauf, Sea (unsportsmanlike conduct),17:14. Ruopp, PG (unsportsmanlike conduct), 17:14. Olson, Sea (hooking), 18:37.

Third period – 7, Prince George, Gabrielle 19 (Ruopp), 4:35. 8, Prince George, McAuley 8 (Harrison,Olson), 12:38. Penalties – Witala, PG (unsportsmanlike conduct), 3:43. Ottenbreit, Sea (interference),3:43. Kolesar, Sea (roughing), 13:21. Kolesar, Sea (major-fighting), 15:57. Ruopp, PG (major-fighting),15:57. Anderson, PG (major-fighting), 16:17. McDonald, PG (roughing, 10-minute misconduct), 16:17.Khaira, Sea (major-fighting), 16:17. Gabrielle, PG (unsportsmanlike conduct), 17:22.

Shots on goal – Seattle 10-8-10 28, Prince George 11-7-15 33. Goalies – Flodell, 33 shots-27 saves(11-7-2-0); Prince George, Edmonds 28-26 (11-5-1-0). Power plays – Seattle 1-6; Prince George 0-3. A– 5,126. Referees – Bryan Bourdon, Sean Raphael. Linesmen – Zach Brooks, Nathan Van Oosten.