Brett Connolly's return from a knee injury could not happened at a worse time for the Kamloops Blazers.
After five games on the shelf, the Prince George Cougars captain unloaded his pent-up energy on the Blazers, collecting two goals and two assists in a 9-5 win Wednesday at CN Centre.
The nine-goal total was a season high for Cougars (24-21-2-1), who have won five straight against the Blazers (21-27-2-1) this season.
Connolly, who suffered a strained knee ligament in Chilliwack on Jan. 12 that was expected to put him out for three to six weeks, combined with Charles Inglis and Nick Bounassisi on a line that proved deadly to the Blazers.
Inglis set up Connolly for his 26th goal of the season 12:07 into the game and Inglis's pass to Connolly on a Cougars' power play made it a 4-2 game at 18:50 of the the first period. Inglis capped off a four-point night (a goal and three assists) with his 19th goal of the season in the third period, while Buonassisi also had a goal and three assists.
Even defensive-minded Cats defenceman Daniel Gibb got into the act, scoring his first goal in almost 11 months (the second of his WHL career) to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead 10:20 into the first period.
The Cougars kept the fireworks display going in the middle frame. Greg Fraser's 15th and 16th goals book-ended rookie Troy Bourke's first goal of the new year that ran the count to 7-2.
Blazers forward Brendan Ranford added to his team-leading goal total, scoring his 21st and 32nd of the season. Chase Souto, JT Barnett and Thomas Frazee were the other Kamloops scorers. Cody Carlson also scored for the Cougars.
James Priestner made 22 saves in the Prince George nets. Jeff Bosch, who was pulled from the Blazers goal after the second period, with the Cougars leading 7-3, took the loss while making 21 saves on 28 shots. Cam Lanigan played the third period and allowed two goals on eight shots.
The third-place Cougars are now four points behind the B.C. Division-leading Vancouver Giants, and trail the second-place Kelowna Rockets by three points.
The Cougars play Friday in Kelowna and Saturday in Everett.
