PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — The Prince George Cougars routed the Everett Silvertips 5-1 Sunday in front of 2,290 fans at the CN Center as the Tips concluded their two-game season-opening weekend road trip.
Everett (1-1-0-0) finished with a split on its longest Western Conference road trip of the year.
Jesse Gabrielle capitalized on two power play opportunities with a pair of goals for Prince George (1-1-0-0).
Everett was playing without forward and captain Dawson Leedahl and towering defenseman Tristan Pfeifer, both of whom suffered upper body injuries Friday. Prince George took advantage as the Cougars were 2 of 3 on power plays after Everett killed both penalties in Friday night’s 2-0 Silvertips win.
The Cougars took a 1-0 lead at 18:32 in the first period for their first goal of the season when Colby McAuley buried a rebound off a save by Everett goaltender Carter Hart.
Prince George broke the game open with three goals in the second period. Haydn Hopkins got the scoring started when he intercepted a pass that inside center ice and fired a shot that Hart knocked away, but Jordan Ross was there to knock it into the goal from the left side of the crease.
Gabrielle scored his first goal on a ricochet off Hart from the right side of the crease at 13:44 for the Cougars’ first power play goal, and Chase Witala’s backhander made it 4-0 at 16:24 to play.
Mario Petit, who parlayed an impressive preseason into making the Tips’ roster as backup goaltender, replaced Hart to begin the third period.
Matt Fonteyne gave the Tips a glimmer of hope when he collected a pass from Cole MacDonald in the slot and buried it at 4:05 in the third to put Everett on the board. Patrick Bajkov also assisted on the goal.
But Gabrielle answered with his second power play goal of the game at 8:46 in the third to complete the scoring.
Hart took the loss with 16 saves among 20 shots faced. Petit recorded eight saves in nine chances.
Overage goaltender Mack Shields earned the win with 25 saves in 26 chances for Prince George.
Everett returns to action Saturday at Portland. The puck drops at 7 in the Rose City.
Cougars 5, Silvertips 1
Everett001—1
Prince George131—5
1st Period—1, Prince George, McAuley 1 (Ruopp, Almeida), 17:32. Penalties-Bethune P.g (hooking), 11:48.
2nd Period—2, Prince George, Ross 1 (Hopkins), 8:37. 3, Prince George, Gabrielle 1 (Olson, Carvalho), 13:44 (PP). 4, Prince George, Witala 1 (Bison, Anderson), 16:24. Penalties-McAuley P.g (interference), 4:09; Mallonee Evt (boarding), 12:08; Fonteyne Evt (roughing), 19:59; Gabrielle P.g (roughing), 19:59.
3rd Period—5, Everett, Fonteyne 1 (MacDonald, Bajkov), 4:05. 6, Prince George, Gabrielle 2 (Harkins, Olson), 8:46 (PP). Penalties-Sutter Evt (slashing), 7:54; Dewar Evt (interference), 11:21; Ross P.g (roughing), 19:33.
Shots on Goal—Everett 8-11-7-26. Prince George 11-9-9-29.
Power Play Opportunities—Everett 0/3; Prince George 2/3.
Goalies—Everett, Hart 1-0-0-0 (20 shots-16 saves); Petit 0-0-0-0 (9 shots-8 saves). Prince George, Shields 0-0-0-0 (26 shots-25 saves).
A-2,290
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
