KELOWNA -- Hudson Stremmel put up an impressive stat on Friday night: 48 saves. Tyson
Barrie, though, had his number.
Barrie had a three-goal night for Kelowna, scoring twice during
regulation, then netting the shootout winner, as the Rockets edged the
Prince George Cougars 4-3 in WHL action at Prospera Place. The win was
Kelowna's fourth in a row, while the loss was the Cougars 12th in a row.
And sealing Prince Georges fate was a spectacular goal by Barrie in the
shootout. After a short deke, Barrie, from atop the crease, roofed the
winner over a fallen Stremmel, a sweet, eye-opening goal that drew a loud
applause from the crowd.
Barrie. who also scored a shorthanded marker late in the second to
make it 2-2, then a power-goal midway through the third to give the home
team a 3-2 lead.
The goal was Kelowna's only shootout marker, as the Cougars --who wasted a power play in overtime --went 0-for-3 in the circus. The game's turning
point, though, hinged when Barrie scored his shorthanded marker 70 seconds after Prince George made it 2-1.
"We had a good chance in (overtime)," said Cougars head coach Dean Clark.
"But our biggest thing is when we were up (2-1) and we give up that
shorthanded goal. We needed to go into the third ahead, because (the
second) was such a good period for us.
"I liked the way we battled, but it's unfortunate because our guys
deserved a result. But, right now, the hockey gods aren't smiling upon
us."
Cody Chikie, with his 17th goal of the season, also scored for Kelowna
(23-25-2-2). Nick Buonassisi, with two goals, and Alex Rodgers replied for Prince George (9-39-1-2), who play the Vancouver Giants tonight in Langley.
Adam Brown made 32 saves for the Rockets, who are 6-1 against the Cougars
this season.
With the two goals, Barrie became Kelowna's franchise leader in points by
a defenceman. The 5-foot-10 rearguard from Victoria now has 153 points,
one more than the former record holder, and current NHLer, Josh Gorges
(152). This season, Barrie has 55 points in 43 games.
