When Kody McDonald scores, the Prince George Cougars win.
That was the case Tuesday night at CN Centre when the 17-year-old right-winger scored his first goal of the season and added a pair of assists in the Cougars 5-2 win against the visiting Calgary Hitmen.
In 2014-15, the Cougars won all nine games when McDonald found the back of the net.
Cougars left-winger Jesse Gabrielle also added two goals, while Brad Morrison and Tyler Mrkonjic added single goals.
Calgary's leading scorer, defenceman Travis Sandheim scored both goals for the Hitmen.
The Cougars improved to an even .500 with a 4-4 record while the Hitmen, who went into Tuesday's contest sitting fifth overall in the Eastern Conference are now 6-4-0-1.
Cougars right-winger Tyler Mrkonjic scored his first goal of the season midway through the third period at the 12:52 mark for a 4-1 lead.
Sanheim blasted a shot from the point five minutes later, but Gabrielle put the game away on an empty-netter at the 18:52 mark.
The Cougars had a 3-1 lead after the second period.
Cougars winger Bartek Bison sprung Gabrielle at the blueline for a break-away and Gabrielle put away his fifth goal of the season at the 17:49 mark to restore Prince George's two-goal lead.
Trailing 2-0, Sanheim narrowed Prince George's lead when he took a pass from Carsen Twarynski and he beat Cougars netminder Mac Shields glove-side to score short-handed at the 11:55 mark.
McDonald tallied his first goal of the season when he roofed a shot past Hitmen starting netminder Lasse Petersen for a 2-0 lead at the 9:50 mark of the second period.
The Cougars took advantage of a five-on-four power play opportunity with eight minutes left in the first period when Brad Morrison slotted home a rebound from the side of the net after a Chase Witala shot from the slot.
It was Morrison's fourth goal of the season.
The Cougars outshot the Hitmen 40-27.
Cougars netminder Mac Shields started in net against the Hitmen, the same team who released him in the off season.
The two teams battle again tonight at 7 p.m.
LOOSE PUCKS: Tuesday's game marked the first appearance for Cougars defenceman Shaun Dosanjh.
Dosanjh, 19, was acquired in a trade from the Vancouver Gians last week. He was paired with Shane Collins.
