Bruins 4 Cougars 2

January 5, 2008

by DAN KINVIG
Black Press

Jadon Potter scored twice to help lead the Bruins to a 4-2 win over the Prince George Cougars at Prospera Centre Saturday night. Photo - Bob Frid

For the better part of two seasons, Chilliwack Bruins forwards Mark Santorelli and Oscar Moller have been as inseparable as the conjoined twin characters played by Matt Damon and Greg Kinnear in the movie Stuck on You.

But with Moller a few time zones away in the Czech Republic, helping Team Sweden to the brink of a gold medal at the World Junior Championship,

Santorelli showed he can thrive without his longtime running mate, lighting up the Prince George Cougars on Saturday night at Prospera Centre.

"I was just getting some chances and shooting the puck," said Santorelli, who figured in on all four of Chilliwack's goals in a 4-2 victory.

The Bruins came out with plenty of energy, taking the play to the Cougars in the early going, but it was the Prince George side who opened the scoring against run of play. Dana Tyrell bulged the twine on the Cougars' first shot on goal at 7:10 of the first period, wheeling into the slot and ripping a slap shot through the legs of Bruins goalie Matt Esposito.

Prince George doubled the lead when Evan Fuller corralled a loose puck and whipped it past Esposito at 10:20, but Santorelli got his team on the board just before the intermission. Evan Pighin made the key play on the goal, driving hard to the net before being driven into Prince George goalie Tommy Tartaglione by a Cougars defenceman. Santorelli tracked down the loose puck in the ensuing scrum and flicked it into the yawning cage.

Jadon Potter knotted the score at 1:41 of the second period, tipping a Chris Van Duynhoven point shot into the top corner. Santorelli gave the Bruins their first lead of the night at 2:35 of the frame, cleanly beating Tartaglione with a slap shot from the left point on a two-man advantage.

Potter's second of the game, from Dylan Chapman and Santorelli, rounded out the scoring at 4:54 of the third, and goalie Matt Esposito made 10 of his 27 saves in the final frame to preserve the lead.

The Bruins (20-17-3-1) are back in action on Wednesday, when they visit the Kelowna Rockets at 7 p.m.

Ice Chips: The Bruins announced today that 17 year old forward Randy McNaught has been added to their active roster. McNaught joins the Bruins from the Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL. In 25 games with the Clippers this season, McNaught recorded 2 goals and 3 assists to go with 54 penalty minutes.