Prince George Cougars left winger Todd Fiddler has been a royal pain in the butt all season for Cougar opponents in the Western Hockey League.
He made that point all too clear Friday night to the Moose Jaw Warriors, the team that traded him away to Prince George in early November.
Fiddler took a pass from linemate Klarc Wilson, who had forced a turnover in the Moose Jaw end, and blasted a shot through the legs of goalie Justin Paulic for his team-leading 32nd goal of the season, 11:30 into the third period, the decisive goal in a 2-1 Cougars' victory.
Fiddler also helped set up the opening goal of the game, 3:21 into the second period, dishing the puck to Jansen Harkins, who spotted defenceman Marc McNulty cruising into the slot for his 14th goal of the season. Moose Jaw evened the count at 6:41 of the second, a centring attempt from Josh Uhrich that deflected in past goalie Ty Edmonds off Cougars defenceman Sam Ruopp.
"It's been an unbelievable month for Fiddler and for him to have that opportunity to come into Moose Jaw and score that goal for us, that's just a testament to who he is as a player," said Cougars assistant coach Jason Becker. "He's a great kid and he's being rewarded."
The win was the third straight for the Cats (21-26-2-5), who moved to within six points of the Tri-City Americans in the chase for the eighth and final playoff spot in the WHL Western Conference. The Americans (25-22-2-3), who have one game in hand over Prince George, lost 3-1 Friday in Edmonton. Moose Jaw has now lost eight in a row.
Edmonds made 21 saves to earn his 16th win of the season as the Cougars outshot the Warriors 25-22. The Warriors had a 13-7 edge in shots in the first period but were held to just nine the rest of the game.
"Obviously, coming into this building against a team that's struggling we knew they were going to come out hard and compete and they did in the first period," said Becker. "Thirteen shots against is a little high and I think we may have taken them lightly but the response was good the second and third period and we found a way to win."
McNulty finished the month of January with 15 points in 14 games, including seven goals.
"In these three wins, Marc has been a difference-maker for us in the defensive end," said Becker. "He's done a good job of taking on the top players in the East Division and for the most part shutting them down. He didn't have the start he wanted but since the Christmas break he's been that top-end draft pick the Red Wings made in June."
The Cougars started their six-game road-trip with an 8-0 loss in Regina, then lost 6-3 in Brandon, followed by a 6-5 shootout win in Prince Albert and a 10-6 triumph in Saskatoon
Their East Division tour winds up tonight in Swift Current against the Broncos, who improved to 26-18-2-6 Friday after a 4-3 home-ice win over Medicine Hat.
