COUGARS PREVAIL IN WILD GAME 8-7 IN OVERTIME
It was throwback night at Interior Savings Centre Sunday night as the Kamloops Blazers (6-12-2-1) and the Prince George Cougars (8-11-1-3) combined for 98 shots and 15 goals with the Cougars outshooting the Blazers 53-44 and outscoring the Blazers 8-7 in overtime.
The goals came immediately with the teams combining for seven goals in the first period. The Blazers started off the scoring as Cole Ully’s shot inched its way past starting goaltender Ty Edmonds to make it 1-0 Blazers only 1:50 into the game. The Cougars came right back and took the lead scoring two goals midway through the period as Chase Witala and Alex Forsberg combined to make it 2-1 for the Cougars. The Blazers tied the game up at 2-2 shortly after as Tyson Ness’ long shot fooled Edmonds and evened the score up. The Cougars then went up by two goals making one count on the power play and another off a turnover to make it 4-2. The Blazers responded before the period was out taking the puck to the net and Aaron Macklin was there to put home his third goal of the season to make it 4-3 before the first period was out. The Blazers outshot the Cougars 24-14 in the period.
The Blazers made a goaltending change after the first period as Bolton Pouliot stopped 10 of 14 shots and Taran Kozun came in relief. The scoring didn’t stop in the second period and the Cougars restored their two-goal advantage. Jordan Tkatch dug at the front of the net and eventually put one in to make it 5-3 five minutes into the period. The Blazers got themselves back in the game from there. Chase Souto struck for two goals scoring shorthanded and on the power play for his 11th and 12th goals of the season to tie things up at 5-5. The Blazers then took the lead with 1:18 left in the period as Aspen Sterzer was set up on a breakaway by Cole Ully and he scored his 11th of the season to make it 6-5 Blazers through two periods.
The Cougars did what the Blazers did after the first period changing their goaltenders as Ty Edmonds was pulled, after allowing six goals on 37 shots, in favour of Brett Zarowny to start the period. No lead was safe in this game and the Cougars battled back in the third period. The Cougars generated 20 shots in the period and it paid off. Todd Fiddler undressed a Blazers defender and walked in untouched scoring to tie the game up at 6-6. Joe Carvalho gave the Cougars the lead with a power play marker with 6:20 to go in the game. Aspen Sterzer came back for the Blazers and scored with just over four minutes remaining in the game to tie the game up at 7-7. The Blazers were given a penalty with 50 seconds remaining in the period. The Blazers killed off the first 50 seconds of the penalty as the game went to overtime.
The Cougars made it count on the power play in overtime as Todd Fiddler scored his third goal of the game to give the Cougars a 8-7 victory.
The difference in the game was the power play as the Cougars finished 3-for-6 and the Blazers were 1-for-5. The Blazers had a season high 44 shots, but also gave up a season high 54 shots.
Taran Kozun made 36 saves and allowed four goals in 40 minutes.
The Blazers will regroup and practice Tuesday as they host the Medicine Hat Tigers on Wednesday night.
