How's that for a fireworks display?
After being held to just five goals in their previous four games combined, the short-circuited Prince George Cougars' offence sparked to life in a 6-0 triumph Friday in Spokane over the Chiefs.
Brad Morrison, Jesse Gabrielle, Jansen Harkins, Brogan O'Brien, Kody McDonald and former Chief Luke Harrison all figured in the scoring as the Cougars ended a four-game road losing streak.
Ty Edmonds was brilliant in goal for the Cougars, stopping all 35 shots to earn his fourth shutout of the season. The 19-year-old goalie was at his best in the third period, when the Chiefs out shot the Cats 21-8.
Leading 3-0, the Cougars scored on two of their first three shots to start the third period. Harrison ended a 31-game scoring drought, scoring 9:05 into the period and O'Brien followed up with another goal 45 seconds later.
The Chiefs had a goal disallowed not long after that and McDonald capped the scoring with his 14th goal, beating Chiefs goalie Lasse Petersen.
Morrison got it started for the Cats on a Prince George power play after an offensive zone face-off win. He jumped all over a fat rebound for his 23rd goal of the season.
Then at the 11:25 mark, Gabrielle sprung linemate Chase Witala into the clear and joined him on a 2-on-1 break. Witala hit Gabrielle with a goalmouth pass and the Cougars right winger buried it for his team-leading 38th of the season.
Witala then combined with Harkins for the third Cougars goal, 16:22 into the period. Witala beat his check by chipping the puck ahead to Harkins, who went backhand-forehand for his 20th goal.
The Cougars (33-35-3-1, fifth in Western Conference) had lost eight of their last nine heading into Friday's game. The Chiefs (29-24-5-3, seventh in Western Conference) fell four points behind the Cougars.
LOOSE PUCKS: The Cougars play tonight in Kennewick, Wash., where they face the Tri-City Americans for the second time this week. The Cats lost 4-1 to the Americans Tuesday... The Cougars announced Friday they'll host the team's inaugural awards banquet and brunch on March 20 at 11 a.m. at the Civic Centre. Tickets are $35 each for adults, $25 for kids 12-and-under, available at the Cougars office at CN Centre weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tickets will also be sold during home games in the CN Centre concourse at the Cougars Fan Club table. Each table at the banquet will have a player or staff member present and fans have a chance to request which player they will sit with during the brunch.
