Cougars Edge Bruins

February 16 2008

Greg Gardner led the way offensively with a goal and two assists and goaltender Real Cyr made 38 saves as the visiting Prince George Cougars handed the Bruins their second straight loss with a 5-4 victory Saturday night. The Bruins (24-25-4) remain in seventh place in the Western Conference, one point ahead of the eighth place Kamloops Blazers.

The Bruins dominated early in this game, opening the scoring when Nick Holden pinched in from the point and knocked home a rebound at the 5:44 mark of the first period. For Holden it was his 17th goal of the season. Chilliwack held a 9-1 edge in shots through the first ten minutes of the opening period but the Cougars battled back getting goals from Brad Reige and Jordie Deagle to take a 2-1 lead after one period of play.

Early in the second the Bruins had a great chance to draw even when rookie Ryan Howse was awarded a penalty shot after being hauled down on a break away by PG defenseman Patrk Magnusson, but it was Cougars goaltender Real Cyr winning the battle with a glove save. Less than a minute later the Bruins did draw even when Jadon Potter picked up a loose puck behind the Prince George goal and tucked home a back hander for his 10th goal of the season. As they did in the first, the Cougars once again scored the final two goals of the period as both Parker Stanfield and Greg Gardner found the back of the net behind goaltender Mark Friesen to give the visitors a two goal edge after two.

In the third, Bruins captain Nick Holden brought the Bruins to within one when he knocked home his own rebound just under six minutes into the period. Dana Tyrell with a nifty deflection put the Cougars back up by two at the 11:03 mark. Randy McNaught rounded out the scoring when he picked up a loose puck along the boards and beat Cyr high with back hander.

The Bruins outshot Prince George 42-32. The Cougars were 0/2 on the power play. The Bruins were not awarded a man advantage in the game.

The Bruins are back at it Sunday when they travel to Vancouver to take on the BC Division leading Vancouver Giants. Chilliwack's next home game is Tuesday when they host the Edmonton Oil Kings.

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Tickets for all Bruins home games can be purchased through the ticketmaster website, by phone ( 1-800-663-9311) or in person at any ticketmaster location.

Ice Chips: Cody Smuk returned to the Bruins lineup tonight after missing 11 games with a shoulder injury...not in the lineup for Chilliwack tonight were Matt Meropoulis (hand injury), and Matt Strong and Partik Bhungal both of whom were serving suspensions earned in Friday's game in Seattle. Strong will be back in the lineup Sunday. Bhungal will miss Sunday's game before hearing final word on the length of his suspension early next week...Mark Santorelli remains second in league scoring after picking up two assists. Santorelli now has 85 points, three back of Kelowna's Colin Long.