Well, lasts nights game was interesting. I was just glad for the fact that we even had a game to be honest. This was a highly anticipated game considering the onslaught that happened last week. (Friday Ams win 7-3, PG wins 8-3 on Sat)
At the drop of the puck, it seemed we started on our heels a bit. PG attacked and held the zone pretty well and we weren't able to mount any type of offensive pressure. Turnovers in the neutral zone plagued the team (more on that later) and the Cougars took advantage early: What happens when a team starts slow and caught off guard? that's right...penalties. Ams took one right off the bat and PG took advantage. Martin Marincin shot one from the top of the slot that was redirected off a D-man, looked like Ows had no chance at stopping it.
From there, more turnovers and missed opportunities until a PP game midway through the first. Sutherland put a shot on and Feser grabbed the rebound and buried it.
Much like the game in Seattle though, it seemed as soon as the Americans scored to tie it up the Cougars came back to notch another. At about 5:30 to go in the first Brock Hirsche batted one out of the air past Owsley (doing his best World Series impression harhar), and the period would end 2-1.
Here's what we (Jess and I) noticed, If any of you were at the Game last year against the Cougars, you may remember how ridiculously hard it was to tell who was on what team. PG and TC's uniforms are so much alike it was hard to differentiate and I'm sure it had an effect on passing etc. -Fast forward to this year, I think we realized that and wore our red third jerseys, but I dont think it helped. I saw more turnovers, just blatant bad passes to the opposite team from our guys.This team doesn't turn over quite that much. It was just odd, and something that happened all throughout the night.
Start of the second...from the Americans website:
"Tri-City, though, found a response in the early goings of the second period. Just 4:11 into the frame, and from inside the slot, Jordan Messier let a shot go that eluded Rimmer, tying the game at 2. But, 1:42 later, former Americans’ forward Spencer Asuchak gave the Cougars the lead again, when he banged in his own rebound past Owsley. "
So just when we feel all good about ourselves, we give up another goal, to an Ams alum no less, and PG takes a 3-2 lead.
I did want to mention though that after watching the play of Brooks Macek, and continuing to wait to see more of the numbers he created last year...its getting a little frustrating. Ill be the first to say, "Give 'em a break, they're kids, but I gotta tell ya, Macek had a decent breakaway chance, knowing the d-man was right on his heels and he didnt pull the trigger. Instead he let the guy poke check it away, a sweeping stick still standing no less, and ended the threat. I cant help feeling like he's trying to do too much with the puck. We;ve seen it several times this year already. One too many moves...it'll come...soon hopefully...
Onto the third and this was interesting. still down 3-2:
"Messier connected for his team-leading 11th goal of the season. Following a 3-on-2 breakaway, Zak Stebner fired a shot on Rimmer. Stebner’s rebound bounced out into the near corner, where Messier corralled the puck, then launched a near-impossible angle shot on goal. Somehow, the puck found its way over Rimmer’s blocker and into the net, tying the game at 3."
Now I may be wrong, which I don't think I am, but I could be. From my vantage point (Section X 3rd row) Messier shot it on Rimmer and he let a rebound go off the pads out to the bottom of the faceoff circle and Messier grabbed it back and fired (no shit about the impossible angle) it in. It was seriously as if he shot from an inch of the red line...So I'm not sure about Stebners shot. I know he got an assist but I think it was from the other end of the ice. Video replay will help later. (unless you're Bud Selig and you refuse to join the new century)
So Tied we went into OT, I really didnt want a shootout. Ams have had enough of that this week. Seattle and Everett games both went to shootout and we won both. Eventually, ones not going to go your way, and thats where we found ourselves. Messier missed his chance at a hatty and the Ams lost their first home game of the season. A month in and we've only had 5 home games...I'm looking forward to January (9 home games)
Coach had this to say:
Inglis- who scored the winner for PG:
3 Stars:
1, Jordan Messier, Tri-City
2, Martin Marincin, Prince George
3, Charles Inglis, Prince George
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Did you all get your banner magnets? they look like this:
Apparently they are giving out 5 of them, (we have five banners now woo!) over the course of the year.
-Chase