Cougars End Road Losing Streak, Win 3-2 In Everett

By 250 Sports

It's been a long time since the Cougars last tasted victory on the road, but a dramatic come from behind victory, started and finished by defenceman Dallas Jackson, gave the Cougars a 3-2 shoot-out win in Everett Friday night.

The Cougars were not only looking to snap out of a three game slide, but were looking for their first victory away from CN Centre since September 26 against Chilliwack, a span of 15 games, when they tangled with the Silvertips for the first time this season.  Last year, the Cougars and Silvertips split the season series, with the home team taking each match-up and three of the games going into extra time.

Marek Viedensky, who had missed the previous two games with strep throat, made his presence known late in first period on a 5-on-3 power play.  Viedensky took advantage of a rebound kicked out by Thomas Heemskerk and put away his fourth goal of the season at 17:36 for a 1-0 Cougars lead.  Alex Rodgers and Dallas Jackson earned assists on the goal.  Hudson Stremmel was back in net for the Cougars and once again held the opposition scoreless in the first period for the third straight time he has started for the Cats.  Stremmel turned aside eight shots, the same amount as Heemskerk at the other end.  A pair of rookie defencemen decided to let the mitts fly in the first period, one second shy of the mid-way point, when Jesse Forsberg of the Cougars and the 'Tips Radko Gudas started throwing punches.  That added to Forsberg's team high for major fighting penalties on the season, now with six.

The Silvertips got back on even terms in the second period when Cameron Abney deflected home his second goal of the season from in front of the Cougars net, tying the game at one at 7:24.  The Silvertips had a 10-3 advantage in shots in the middle frame and led 18-12 through two periods.

In the third, the Silvertips took their first lead of the game when last year's WHL rookie scoring leader, Kellan Tochkin, banged home a loose puck at the lip of the crease for his eighth goal of the season at 14:47.  With the Cougars down 2-1, Stremmel was pulled for the extra attacker with 47 seconds to play in regulation and the move paid off.  Parker Stanfield was behind the Silvertips net and fed a pass to Jackson, who went upstairs to beat Heemskerk with 14 seconds left in the third for a 2-2 tie.  The goal ties Jackson with James Dobrowolski for the Cougars lead in goals with eight.  The Cougars had gained at least a point and were one shot away from getting the victory, with the teams bound for overtime.

Everett had the best chance to win, though, with a slashing penalty called on Stanfield at 1:21.  But Stremmel came up with big saves to keep the game tied.  It would stay even at two as the teams went to a shoot-out.

The Cougars had the second shot in the shoot-out.  Tyler Maxwell, with 20 goals on the season, was foiled by Stremmel in the first round, as was Jaroslav Vlach by Heemskerk.  In the second round, Stremmel got even with Tochkin with a big save, which gave way to Jackson giving the Cougars a 2-1 lead with his first shoot-out goal of the year.  Stremmel then stopped the other 20-goal man for the Silvertips, leading scorer Shane Harper, to give the Cougars a 3-2 victory, improving the club's record to 6-24-1-1, handing the Silvertips their fifth straight loss and falling to 16-11-2-1.  Stremmel, who was named the games first star, stopped 28 of 30 shots in regulation and overtime, while getting in front of all three shoot-out attempts.  The Cougars had 24 shots for Heemskerk to deal with on the night.  The Cougars went 1-for-5 on the power play and were perfect on the penalty kill, erasing seven man advantage's for the Silvertips.

The Cougars end their five game road trip in Chilliwack Saturday, facing a Bruins team they have knocked off two of three times this season.  The Cats will return home for back-to-back games with the Kamloops Blazers December 18 and 19.  Fans are asked to bring office and cleaning supplies to the Friday night game to support the Prince George SPCA.  The next night is the Cougars annual Teddy Bear and Toque Toss night game.  Fans will get a chance to litter the ice with stuffed animals and toques when the Cougars score their first goal next Saturday, with all donations going to the Salvation Army and RCMP Victim Services.  Also that night, Prince George Esporta Cleaners will be collecting new and used boots and shoes and taking them to their location to put through the Esporta clean and sanitizing program.  Esporta with then distribute the items to Active Support Against Poverty.

Game time for both games is 7:00.  Tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster at 250-564-5585.

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