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Morrison fashions victory for Cougars

Brad Morrison, being the fashion-conscious young man that he is, proudly modeled a red and black checked lumberjack shirt after Saturday's game at CN Centre.
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Brad Morrison, being the fashion-conscious young man that he is, proudly modeled a red and black checked lumberjack shirt after Saturday's game at CN Centre.

His Prince George Cougars' teammates gave him the honour as the difference maker in their 4-1 win over the Tri-City Americans. 'Broadway Brad,' the New York Rangers' fourth-round pick in 2015, broke out of his scoring slump in a big way with two goals and an assist and completed the Gordie Howe hat trick by picking a scrap with the biggest guy on the ice.

After losing three of their first four games this season, the Cougars (2-3-0-0), needed Saturday's win as reassurance they aren't such a bad team after all. Having lost 5-2 to the Americans Friday, they came out looking like a different team in the rematch and were rewarded early.

Coming off a 23-goal, 50-point sophomore season, the 18-year-old Morrison had nothing to show for his first four games, but he got on the scoresheet just 1:19 into the game, helping set up linemate Chase Witala's power-play goal. Then in the second period, on another Cats' power play with the Americans two bodies down, Morrison was wide open on the right side and snapped in a cross-crease pass from Jansen Harkins for a 2-0 lead. It was sweet relief for the snakebitten Morrison.

"I was frustrated, obviously, people could probably tell," said Morrison. "I think getting that first one now, they're going to keep coming, and that's kind of what happened."

Head coach Mark Holick put Morrison on the same line with Witala and Harkins for the third period Friday and they were effective. On Saturday they were downright dangerous, with Morrison leading the way.

"I've been waiting four game for that kid to show up like that," said Holick. "The last 40 minutes of the game Friday night and the whole game tonight, that's the type of hockey he needs to play. He's a dominant player when he wants to be. When his feet are moving, he's probably one of the better players in our league. He's exciting to watch and he can defend hard and he works hard, it's just sometimes the focus wanders a bit for him."

The stands were less than half full, but those 2,509 spectators were treated to entertaining spectacle that had a bit of everything -- great goaltending at both ends, a penalty shot, a crossbar clanger, crunching bodychecks, four fights, three pretty-to-watch goals, and a tense third period which ultimately decided the outcome.

After getting outshot 10-1 in the second period, the Americans got lucky right after the break when Witala shot high on his penalty shot attempt after getting hauled down on a breakaway. The visitors stayed out of the penalty box in the third period and let their own power play do its job. With two Cougars serving time and penalty-killing winger Aaron Boyd on his knees helpless after a shot broke his skate blade, rookie winger Michael Rasmussen deflected Brandon Carlo's point blast in behind Ty Edmonds to cut the lead in half with 16 minutes still to play.

The Americans came on strong and fired several dangerous shots at the Cougars goalie but he stood up to the test with at least five great saves, including his pad-down reaction to absorb a low on-target zinger from Jordan Topping.

Not long after that, Harkins broke into the offensive zone with the puck, with Tri-City defenceman Juuso Valimaki the lone man back, and Morrison joined the rush. Morrison gained the puck on his off-wing and with only a sliver of net showing lifted a backhander high over the shoulder of Evan Sarthou. Brogan O'Brien followed that a couple minutes later with an empty-netter -- his first WHL goal.

"I thought both goalies played well, (Sarthou) gave us chance when I didn't think we were invested like we were (Friday) night," said Americans head coach Mike Williamson. "I thought Prince George won a lot of races to pucks and battles for the first 40 minutes and you've got to give them credit. They bounced back after (Friday) and we looked flat."

The 19-year-old Edmonds made 20 saves to notch his first win of the season, after two losses.

"It's nice to take the credit but a lot came from the defence and forwards," said Edmonds. "They're a good team and I felt good out there. One shot in the second -- that was one of the best defensive performances we've had in the first 40. The last 20 we struggled a bit, but I know when they're struggling I'm there to help them and vice-versa."

Morrison's fight, his first since the preseason two years ago, came late in the second period when he took on the six-foot-five, 201-pound Carlo. Outweighed by 20 pounds and five inches shorter than his opponent, Morrison played it smart and didn't allow Carlo to use his reach advantage. Morrison got hit by a couple glancing blows but emerged otherwise unscathed.

"He kind of cross-checked me and I was sick of it and just turned around and gave him a piece of my mind," said Morrison. "I think I did pretty good. It felt pretty good. I want to watch it."

Next up for the Cougars are the defending-champion Kelowna Rockets, who visit CN Centre Friday and Saturday.