Cougars Hammer Hurricanes 7-2

By 250 News

The Prince George Cougars earned their first win on their Alberta road trip Friday night, opening three games in three nights with a 7-2 romp over the Lethbridge Hurricanes at ENMAX Centre.

The Cougars were trying to atone for a 4-1 loss to the Hurricanes October 8 and were playing the third game of their five game Alberta trip.  The Cougars didn't wait long to strike first when Troy Bourke and Nick Buonassisi came in on a 2-on-1 rush.  Bourke, who came down the left wing, fed Buonassisi who ripped a one-timer past Brandon Anderson at 4:01 for Buonassisi's 17th goal of the year.  Martin Marincin picked up an assist on the goal as well to run his point streak to five games.  Cam Braes, the Hurricanes leading scorer, scored his 28th goal of the season at 14:10, poking home a loose puck in the crease behind Cougars goalie Ty Rimmer.  But Cougars Captain Brett Connolly restored the lead with two goals 12 seconds apart.  Connolly scored on a rebound at 16:17 on the power play for his 31st goal of the season, with assists going to Brock Hirsche and Sena Acolatse.  Then at 16:29, Connolly stole the puck at centre and weaved to the right face-off circle.  Connolly then fired a wrist shot low on the blocker side of Anderson for his second goal of the period and 32nd tally of the season for a 3-1 Cougars lead.  Taylor Stefishen picked up the lone assist.  Connolly extended his point streak to six and Stefishen's improved to five.  The Cougars out-shot the Hurricanes 11-9 in the first.

In the second, Jacob Berglund was sprung loose and scored to cut the Prince George lead to 3-2 at 3:46.  Rimmer shut the door from there, making dazzling saves to keep the Cougars in front.  The Cougars restored their two goal cushion when James Dobrowolski jumped off the bench and retrieved a loose puck at the Hurricanes blue line.  Stepping in down the right wing, Dobrowolski rifled a shot over Anderson's glove hand for his 17th goal at 13:49, giving Prince George a 4-2 lead.  Charles Inglis made it 5-2 with 40 seconds left in the period, taking a drop pass from Buonassisi and snapping a wrister past Anderson for his 22nd goal of the season. Greg Fraser also earned an assist as the Cougars took a 5-2 lead to the second intermission.  The Cougars were out-shot 14-5.

In the third Inglis took a pass in front of the net from Buonassisi and out-waited Anderson, who went down early and Inglis put home his second goal of the night at 14:21.  Stefishen finished the scoring putting a shot over Anderson's right arm for his 18th marker of the season and a 7-2 Cougars lead at 17:30.  The Cougars picked up their 27th win of the season, out-shooting Lethbridge 12-10 in the third.  The Hurricanes out-shot the Cougars 33-28 in the game.  The Cougars went 1-for-3 on the power play and held the Hurricanes scoreless on six power play tries.

The Cougars face-off with the Calgary Hitmen Saturday and end the road trip in Red Deer Sunday.  The Cougars will return home and face the Everett Silvertips Friday and Saturday at CN Centre, starting at 7:00pm both nights.  Tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster at 250-564-5585.

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