Colby McAuley scored two goals Friday to power the visiting Prince George Cougars to a 3-0 Western Hockey League win over the Everett Silvertips.
The 18-year-old sophomore left winger connected for his first of the game on a Cougar power play, 4:18 into the second period and added his sixth of the season at even strength just 36 seconds into the third period.
Kody McDonald made it a 3-0 count with the Everett net empty with 90 seconds left, deflecting the puck off an Everett defender.
Ty Edmonds made 27 stops for his ninth win and second shutout of the season.
The Cougars played the final minute killing a penalty but did not let the Silvertips get close to breaking the goose egg.
Shots were 30-27 in the Cougars' favour. The Cats' penalty killers were perfect, killing off all seven Everett opportunities. The Prince George power play went 1-for-5.
Their fifth road victory in 12 games allowed the Cougars (16-9-1-1) to maintain their torrid pace.
They've now won eight of their last 11 games and have just two regulation losses over that span.
Friday's win moved them four points ahead of the Silvertips (14-9-0-2) and solidified the Cougars' grip on fourth place in the Western Conference standings.
The Cougars evened the season series between the teams at two wins apiece, having gained one extra point as a result of their overtime loss in Everett on Nov. 6.
LOOSE PUCKS: The Cougars' road show moves on to Vancouver's Pacific Coliseum, where they will meet the Giants Sunday night at 6 p.m. (94.3 FM, The Goat). In the only other meeting this season between the teams on Oct. 25 in Vancouver, the Cougars defeated the Giants 3-1. The Giants were 4-0 winners Friday over the Kootenay Ice. The Cats return to Prince George following that game and will host the Kootenay Ice at CN Centre Tuesday night... The Cougars' scratches Friday were D Luka Zorko (healthy), D Shaun Dosanjh (upper body, day-to-day), F Josh Curtis (healthy), F Kolby Johnson (healthy) and D Max Martin (shoulder surgery, three months).
