Tonight in Prince George, the Cougars continue their six game home stand with their first meeting of the 2016-17 season against a US Division opponent.Kevin Constantine’s Everett Silvertips are here for the first of two consecutive games, and a victory for Richard Matvichuk’s crew tonight would get them a little bit closer to history. Having won eight straight games, the Cougars are now two victories shy of matching their longest ever winning streak (10 games, 2001-2002). It won’t be easy though as the notoriously stingy Everett Silvertips are in town and would love to spoil the party tonight for the WHL leading Cougars.

EVERETT SILVERTIPS

OVERVIEW:

2016-17 Record: 4-1-1-0

Road Record: 2-0-1-0

2015-16 Record Vs. PG: 2-2 (1-1 in PG)

Goals For/Goals Against: 19 GF/13 GA

Power Play: 17.2% (13th)

Penalty Kill: 83.3% (7th)

Leading Scorers: Matt Fonteyne (6GP – 3G – 5A – 8 PTS), Patrick Bajkov (6 GP – 1G – 6A – 7PTS), Graham Millar (6 GP – 5G – 1A – 6 PTS).

WHO’S UP FRONT:

Matt Fonteyne: Has collected at least a point in each of Everett’s six games to start the season. Last season he put up 16 goals and 48 points and a +8 rating.

Graham Millar: The 20-year-old leads Everett with five goals already on the season. He’s a strong skater with good size and has established himself as one of the early go-too guys so far in 2016-17.

WHO’S ON D:

Noah Juulsen: The first rounder of the Montreal Canadiens is as good as it gets in the WHL. In two games he’s posted a goal and an assist and lots MAJOR minutes for his team in all situations.

Kevin Davis: Leads all Everett defenders with four points (all assists) through six games this season.

WHO’S IN GOAL:

Carter Hart: The reigning WHL and CHL Goaltender of the Year is fresh off signing an entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. In four games this season he’s 2-1-1-0 with a 2.22 goals-against-average and a .912 save percentage. Last season he was 2-2 against the Cougars with a 1.89 goals-against-average and a .930 save percentage.

X-FACTOR:

Dominic Zwerger: The 20-year-old Austrian has two goals and one assist in his first four games in a Silvertips uniform. The two-spotter had 27 goals last season and should be another big offensive contributor to the Everett Silvertips in 2016-17.

PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS

OVERVIEW:

2016-17 Record: 8-0-0-0

Home Record: 4-0-0-0

2015-16 Record Vs. Everett: 2-1-1-0 (1-1 at home)

Goals For/Goals Against: 34 GF/16 GA

Power Play: 22.0% (8th)

Penalty Kill: 97.2% (1st)

Leading Scorers: Brad Morrison (8 GP – 4G – 8A – 12 PTS), Jared Bethune (8 GP – 5G – 5A – 10 PTS), Kody McDonald (8 GP – 4G – 6A – 10 PTS)

WHO’S UP FRONT:

Brad Morrison: Has four goals and six points in the span of his past four games. He’s tops on the team in scoring and second overall in the WHL behind only Portland’s Cody Glass. Not only has Morrison been thriving offensively, but he’s also been responsible defensively and has earned praise from the coaching staff for being on top of the ‘little things’ in his game.

Jansen Harkins: The Winnipeg Jet’s prospect has recorded four assists in his first two games of the season and has thrived alongside Brad Morrison and Jesse Gabrielle. Already Harkins has shown terrific speed, instincts and strong two-way play and he’ll be looking to keep that trend going forward this week as the Cougars play four games in the span of five days.

WHO’S ON D:

Tate Olson: In six gmaes this season Olson leads all Cougars blueliners with a goal and four assists for five points. The Vancouver Canucks prospect has been instrumental in the team’s recent power play success (four for it’s last eight) and hopefully that success can continue tonight against Everett.

WHO’S IN GOAL:

Ty Edmonds: In five appearances Ty Edmonds has surrendered just seven goals against. He’s 5-0 with a 1.59 goals-against-average and a .941 save percentage. The cycle remains the same right now for the Cougars goaltenders: Ty starts tonight, Nick McBride goes tomorrow. Why fix what ain’t broke?

X-FACTOR:

Yan Khomenko: 18-year-old Yan Khomenko was released by the Everett Silvertips after last season. In 46 games with Everett a season ago he had five goals and three assists for eight points. So far this season in eight games with the Cougars, Khomenko has three goals and four assists for seven points. His transition to PG has been a very smooth one and you know that he would love a strong showing tonight and tomorrow against his former team.