Cougars Shut-Out Bruins 5-0 To End 2010 Schedule

By 250 News

Two meetings with the Bruins, two shut-outs for James Priestner.  Priestner made 22 saves to record his second shut-out of the season, both over Chilliwack, and sixth of his WHL career, helping the Cougars to a 5-0 win Wednesday as they head into 2011.

The Cougars were looking to respond from a 3-0 loss to the Bruins Tuesday, giving both teams a shut-out in the season series in the other teams' rink.  Priestner had 28 saves on November 24 in the 4-0 Cougars victory in Chilliwack.  Greg Fraser opened the scoring for the Cougars in the first period at the 11:23 mark, as a shot from Nick Buonassisi went off Fraser in front of the net past Bruins starter Braden Gamble for a 1-0 Cougars lead.  Charles Inglis also drew an assist on the goal.  The Cougars took the 1-0 lead into the dressing room, out-shooting Chilliwack 9-7.

Inglis then scored a highlight goal in the second period to increase the lead.  After taking a feed from Jesse Forsberg, Inglis went in on a breakaway and pulled the puck on his backhand to draw Gamble to the ice, then stuck the biscuit upstairs for his 16th goal of the year and a 2-0 Prince George lead.  The Cougars out-shot the Bruins 14-5 in the middle frame and held the two goal cushion through 40 minutes.

In the third, James Dobrowolski added some breathing room at 11:40, banking a shot from the right wing corner off Gamble for his 10th goal of the year to make it a 3-0 Cougars lead.  Dobrowolski becomes the eighth Cougars player to record 10 goals on the year and the goal was his 50th WHL tally.  Cody Carlson drew a helper on the goal.  The Cougars got some milestone goals late, when Caleb Belter and Shane Pilling collected their first WHL goals to finish the scoring.  Belter took the puck at the Bruins line then snapped a hard wrist shot glove side on Gamble to make it 4-0 Cougars at 13:27.  Dobrowolski earned the lone assist.  Then Pilling on a 5-on-3 power play, fired a left point shot by Gamble on the glove side for his first at 15:28.  Carlson and Inglis gained assists, giving Inglis a three point night.  The Cougars cruised to the 5-0 win, out-shooting Chilliwack 11-10 in the third and 34-22 in the game.  The Cougars went 1-for-5 on the power play and held the Bruins without a goal on four power play tries.

Brock Hirsche, playing in his 100th WHL game, played on defence and was a +3 on the night.  The Cougars improve their record to 19-15-2-1 and take over first place in the BC Division, jumping ahead of the Kelowna Rockets with 41 points, one ahead of the Rockets.  The Bruins fall to 17-15-2-1.

The Cougars will open 2011 with an afternoon game against the Moose Jaw Warriors on January 2, which is the Cougars Family Day game, starting at 2:00pm at CN Centre.  A family of four can get two adult tickets, two children's tickets, four orders of pop and popcorn for just $39.  Fans are also invited to skate with the Cougars after the game.  Sunday will be the Cougars sixth game of eight straight at home, which has seen the club win four of the first five games.

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