EDMONDS SHINES IN A 1-0 COUGARS VICTORY OVER VICTORIA
Friday night at the CN Centre 2700-plus were treated to a spectacular goaltending display between Ty Edmonds of the Prince George Cougars and Griffen Outhouse of the Victoria Royals. Neither goaltender surrendered a goal against through 40 minutes and early in the third period the Cougars managed to squeeze one past Outhouse, which was all they’d need for a 1-0 regulation victory at home against Victoria. Ty Edmonds was sensational at the other side for Prince George making 41 saves for his 13th victory and his third shutout of the season. The victory puts the Cougars into a second place tie with the Royals with 52 points, though the Cougars hold two games in hand.
After a somewhat cautious and scoreless first period the second proved to be much more wide open at both sides. Early in the middle frame Outhouse made a spectacular glove save off of Jesse Gabrielle from in close to keep the game scoreless. Moments later he made another sprawling glove save off of Jared Bethune.
Across the ice Ty Edmonds was brilliant too as he made two crucial saves off of Dante Hannoun to keep his team on even terms, and 40 minutes solved absolutely nothing as both goaltenders held a shutout through two periods. Victoria did hold a 29-23 shot advantrage.
Just a minute and 16 seconds into the final period Jesse Gabrielle finally solved Griffen Outhouse. Outhouse made an initial save off of Chase Witala’s shot from the left circle, but Gabrielle snuck a low backhand shot through the legs and home for his team leading 26th goal of the season. With the assist, Witala extended his point streak to eight games and Brogan O’Brien added the second assist.
Ty Edmonds took over the game from there. He made three point-blank saves in the third period off of Ryan Gagnon, Alex Forsberg and Jack Walker and got some help late in the game from his defenders as they dove to block shots when Victoria had the extra-attacker on the ice.
When the final buzzer sounded the Cougars mobbed their goaltender who with 41 saves improved his overall season record to 13-7-1-0 with a 2.28 goals-against-average and a .928 save percentage which puts him back atop the WHL in that category.
Neither team could capitalize on the power play as the Cougars went zero-for-two and the Royals went zero-for-three.
For the Cougars it was their third victory of the season against Victoria and their 25th overall. Now the Cougars will take their 25-14-1-1 record into the rematch Saturday where a win over Victoria in the rematch would move the Cougars into second place outright in the B.C. Division and the Western Conference standings.
