Cody Carlson didn't miss a beat after his 10-game point streak was halted.
The Prince George Cougars' defenceman had a three goals, including the shootout winner Saturday in Spokane, to start a new two-game Western Hockey League point streak.
"I'm definitely feeling very confident out there," said Carlson. "I've got to give a lot of credit to my D-partner [and house mate] Dan Gibb. He's been great defensively and he's been getting me the puck to put these numbers up and our power play has [been clicking]."
The Cougars (12-19-0-2) extended their win streak to three games Saturday with a 4-3 win over the Chiefs (14-9-2-3) and have won five of their past six road games, including a 1-0 shutout by Drew Owsley on Friday in Seattle where Carlson had the only goal.
The 20 year old had his 10-game point streak end in last Wednesday's 4-3 overtime win against the Portland Winterhawks, but his two regulations goals on the weekend have him tied with rookie Alex Forsberg with 23 points for the Cougars' scoring title. Carlson has five goals.
The Cougars rallied from a 3-0 deficit against Spokane as Forsberg and fellow rookie Jordan Tkatch potted their eighth goals of the season before Carlson tied the game with a power-play marker.
"In the room we just don't have any quit on our team," said Carlson. "We just knew we could find a way to win."
Remarkably, the Cougars have posted a 4-1 record since 19-year-old Charles Inglis (nine goals, 16 points in 16 games) was removed from the team, pending a trade, due to what head coach Dean Clark referred to as "a negative attitude" in the dressing room, among a series of other team violations.
"We can't worry about the past," said Carlson. "We've just got to be happy with what we have."
Carlson added the attitude in the Prince George locker room is really positive these days.
"It's a really tight-knit dressing room," said Carlson. "It's a great bunch of guys who like each other."
Clark said it was extra sweet to get the win for Owsley (11-16-0-1) in Spokane.
"It'll give him a little bit more confidence in our team," said Clark. "I feel it was a huge pay back because of all the things he's done for our guys."
CAT SCRATCHES: The Cougars were without Campbell Elynuik on Saturday as the forward awaits a hearing with the WHL about further suspension after he received a five-minute major and game misconduct for boarding Seattle's Shea Theodore on Friday. Defenceman Martin Marincin will join Team Slovakia on Thursday for his third World Junior Hockey championship.
