Cougars Open Weekend Doubleheader With 4-2 Win Over Kelowna

By 250 News

The Prince George Cougars kept their strong home ice play in tact Friday, opening a doubleheader with the Kelowna Rockets with a 4-2 win Friday night at CN Centre.

The Cougars and Rockets will meet for the final time Saturday in the nine game season series.  The Cougars had dropped their last two games, while the Rockets entered Friday's tilt with the Cougars on a seven game winning streak.  The Cougars were looking for a quick start Friday and they got it at 12:35, when Charles Inglis snapped a low shot past Jordon Cooke on the glove side for his 21st goal of the season and 100th WHL point.  The goal also extended Inglis' point streak to four, while Troy Bourke also took his point streak to four with an assist and Nick Buonassisi also drew a helper.  The Cougars added to their advantage at 18:27 when Taylor Stefishen, who led the Cougars with seven goals and 14 points in January, tipped home his 15th goal of the season off a left wing shot from Brett Connolly.  Sena Acolatse picked up an assist as well, and the Cougars took a 2-0 lead to the dressing room, out-shooting Kelowna 10-8.

In the second frame, Bourke got his stick on a point shot from Cody Carlson that bounced past Cooke for his 13th goal of the year and a 3-0 Cougars lead at 5:44.  Jesse Forsberg earned an assist.  Then at 8:32, Martin Marincin pushed a shot past Cooke on the blocker side in front of the Rockets goal for a 4-0 Cougars lead.  Marincin's 13th goal of the season was set up by Jaroslav Vlach and Brock Hirsche, with both bringing their point streaks to four games.  Hirsche almost scored the prettiest goal of the year when he took the puck at the Cougars blue line shorthanded and raced into the Rockets end, but was stopped by the right toe of Cooke.  Ty Rimmer had to be sharp at the other end, blocking a golden Rockets chance shortly after.  The Cougars led 4-0 after two and out-shot the Rockets 14-10 in the second period.

Although the Rockets got goals from Zak Stebner and MacKenzie Johnston in the third, the Cougars would go on to a 4-2 victory, improving their record to 25-23-2-1, closing the gap to seven points behind the Rockets for second in the BC division.  The Rockets out-shot the Cougars 9-8 in the third, but the Cougars had the advantage in the game at 32-27.  Prince George went 1-for-5 on the power play and the Rockets were 0-for-6.  Since December 14, the Cougars have won nine of their last 12 at CN Centre and are 15-10-1-1 on home ice this season.

The Cougars will look for the weekend sweep Saturday when the teams meet for the final time this season, starting at 7:00pm at CN Centre.  Tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster at 250-564-5585.

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