Ty Edmonds now stands alone as the all-time victories leader for a Cougars goaltender. Friday night in front of 4040 strong at the CN Centre, Ty Edmonds helped back-stop the Cougars to a 4-1 victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings. Jesse Gabrielle and Jansen Harkins each had a goal and an assist while Ty Edmonds turned aside 19 of the 20 shots he faced to earn his 27th victory of the season and the 96th of his historic career with the Prince George Cougars. The victory helped Edmonds surpass Scott Myers (1996-2000) who held the previous record of 95.
Just 3:38 into the first period the Cougars took the lead when Colby McAuley and Jansen Harkins combined on Harkins’ 19th goal of the season off the rush. Oil Kings starter Josh Dechaine had no chance as Harkins crept behind the defender and knocked McAuley’s pass into the wide open net.
Nikita Popugaev then added to the Cougars lead when he knocked home a Jesse Gabrielle rebound at 7:07 for his 26th. The Cougars led 2-0 after the first and outshot the Oil Kings 16-5 in the opening period.
Mid-way through the second period, Cougars forward Colby McAuley was assessed a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for checking to the head. Oil Kings forward Ty Gerla left the game and did not return after the collision setting up the Oil Kings on a five minute power play.
The Cougars though would be the ones to capitalize when Jared Bethune sent Jesse Gabrielle in alone on a shorthanded breakaway. Gabrielle went to the backhand and slipped his 27th of the season past Josh Dechaine to make it 3-0. Shots were 34-12 after two periods favoring the Cougars.
At 7:14 of the third Edmonton struck for their only goal when Trey Fix-Wolansky fired his team leading 21st of the season past Ty Edmonds. His goal came via the power play which finished one-for-three.
21 seconds later though the Cougars answered when Josh Anderson blasted home his second of the season off a shot from the left point to make the score 4-1.
That would be all Ty Edmonds and the Cougars would need as they finished the game with a 42-20 edge in shots, and a 4-1 lead on the scoreboard. Edmonds was mobbed by his teammates when the final horn sounded and the CN Centre crowd stood in unison as his milestone was celebrated after the game.
