Cougars - Americans Preview.

The Prince George Cougars continue their four-game road trip tonight in Kennewick, Washington where for the first time since late October, the Prince George Cougars will go head-to-head with the Tri-City Americans. The Cougars come into tonight’s game four points back of eighth placed Victoria and will need to try and find a way to earn points against one of the top teams in the Western Conference.


TRI CITY AMERICANS:



Overview:

The Tri-City Americans head into tonight’s game 8-2-0-0 in their last 10 games. They have 99 points on the season and are just one point back of the Portland Winterhawks for first overall in the Western Conference. The Americans are as deep and as talented as any team in the league and you know that the Cougars will need to be at their best defensively in order to beat them.



Who’s Up Front:

The Tri-City Americans boast perhaps the top trio in the Western Hockey League with Brendan Shinnimin, Adam Hughesman and Patrick Holland. The three have combined for 336 points this season with Shinnimin leading the way with 125. Shinnimin has scored 20 of his 55 goals on the power play while Hughesman has chipped in 18 on the man advantage.



Who’s on D:

Defensively 18-year-old Zachary Yuen leads the Ams. He comes into tonight’s game as a +41 for the season and has 34 points to lead all Tri-City blueliners. Yuen will no doubt be one of the key focal points for the Americans on the blueline, and the Cougars will need to try and limit his effectiveness by any means necessary.



Who’s in Goal:

The Americans have two extremely capable goaltenders in Ty Rimmer and Eric Comrie. Rimmer of course spent last season in Prince George, and this season has really blossomed into one of the league’s most statistically successful goaltenders. Both Rimmer and Comrie have a goals against average well under three, and both provide the Ams with a great chance to win on a nightly basis.



X-Factor:

The Americans are a lethal bunch five-on-five but are even more so when they have the power play. Heading into tonight’s contest the Americans are sixth in the WHL with a power play percentage of 23.7. If the Cougars can minimize their chance on the man advantage they’ll give themselves every opportunity to win.


PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS


Overview:

Dean Clark’s team is heading into tonight’s game on a two-game winning streak and they sit just four points back of eighth place in the Western Conference with four games remaining in the regular season. Everett, Victoria, and Seattle are all in action tonight, so it will be key for the Cougars to take care of their own business with a victory and the rest should take care of itself. The Cougars are 22-44-0-2 this season and 3-7-0-0 in their last 10 games.



Who’s Up Front:

Troy Bourke had two goals and an assist in last night’s game, and has now tallied eight points in his past five games altogether. Bourke has taken his game to a new level as of late, and he will need to bring the same type of game tonight for the Cougars to have their best chance at winning.



Who’s on D:

Dean Clark called last night’s game one of the best defensive efforts of the season. He praised his team’s ability to silence Kelowna through the neutral zone, and tonight he hopes to see more of the same. The Cougars are going to need lots of shot blocks, physicality and hustle from everybody to find success defensively.



Who’s in Goal:

Cougars 20-year-old netminder Drew Owsley played three full seasons in a Tri-City uniform and won 76 career regular season games and 18 playoff games with the Americans over the course of his career. Tonight for the first time since a summer trade that sent him to Prince George, Drew Owsley will get to play some games in Tri-City in front of many of his friends and fans. Earlier this morning, Owsley called it a “surreal” feeling being back in the Tri-Cities, and tonight the Cougars probably MVP will get a chance to showcase his abilities in a visiting uniform. When you factor in the Cougars push to the playoffs, and Owsley’s return. Tonight has the potential to be an incredibly special night for Drew Owsley and the Cougars.



X-Factor:

The Cougars power play is clicking at a great pace right now. The Cougars have scored five (official) power play goals in their last four games, and even when they aren’t scoring, they seem to be moving the puck around with a ton of confidence. If the Cougars can draw some penalties and keep their power play success going – They give themselves a much better chance of stealing some points from one of the top squads in the Western Conference.