Cougars Flat In 5-1 Loss To Thunder

January 26, 2002
The Cougars dropped their second game in a row, this time to the Capital Thunder 5-1 to see their regular season record drop to 3-2-1. Unlike their last couple of games, the Cougars started quickly when Katie Jordan scored the game's first goal at 12:07 in the first period.

	Katie

Things were looking good at that point as an early goal usually leads to a Cougar mauling. Even though the Thunder came back and tied it 1-1 with a goal at 7:32, the Cougars continued to play well until near the end of the period. Play was consistently down in the Thunder zone and the Cougars were aggressively pursuing and supporting the puck. They kept the pressure on, putting 10 shots on goal and many others just off the mark. A solid period by the Thunder goaltender was the only thing keeping them in the game.

With 54 seconds to go in the first period, the Thunder scored on a breakaway. This appeared to somewhat deflate the team as, after all their solid play, they trailed for the first time. Disaster followed when the Thunder scored for the second time in the last minute, this time with 2.7 seconds left. The Cougars allowed only 4 shots in the period, and put up 10, but were now on the short end of a 3-1 score.

Inexplicably for the remainder of the game, the whole Cougar team seemed to go flat. Passes weren't as crisp and were broken up, players were bunching up, skates a step or two slower, etc. They just couldn't get anything going and wound up with just 9 shots on goal over the last 30 minutes. The Thunder put two more goals on the board in the second period to stretch their lead to 5-1. When the Cougars are playing well, this isn't insurmountable, but it was today.

After two losses in two long road trips, the Cougars play at home next week. It may be just what they need to get back on their game. A big win against Tri-Valley, and they're right back with the league leaders.