EVERETT — At times hockey is a beautiful game, full of teamwork, crisp tape-to-tape passes and lightning quick pad saves.
Friday was not that time.
The Prince George Cougars prevailed over the Everett Silvertips 3-0 before 3,533 fans Friday night at Xfinity Arena in a game marred by four fights, 20 combined penalties and 77 combined penalty minutes.
Colby McAuley scored twice in the physical contest as Prince George (16-9-1-1, 34 points) won its fourth straight and sixth in its last seven contests.
Everett (14-9-0-2, 30 points) dropped its second straight home game after falling 4-1 to Tri-City on Wednesday night.
The game featured four separate fights in the first period alone. Dawson Leedahl and Josh Anderson dropped gloves at 6:27 and were each assessed five-minute penalties for fighting. Noah Juulsen and Jesse Gabrielle soon joined them following their own fight before things escalated at 15:05 in the third.
That was when two separate fights broke out involving Leedahl, Anderson and Remi Laurencelle. Anderson and Laurencelle each received five-minute majors, while Leedahl got a five-minute major for the fight and a 10-minute game misconduct that sent him to locker room for the remainder of the game.
Prince George did not capitalize on the ensuing 5-on-3 or 4-on-3 power plays, however, and the game remained scoreless through one.
McAuley scored what ended up being the only goal the Cougars needed when he tipped in the game’s first score off a blueline slap shot from Joseph Carvalho at 4:18 in the second for a 1-0 Prince George lead.
The Tips had two different 5-on-3 power-play opportunities as the second period wore on, but Everett was unable to capitalize either time and the Cougars took the 1-0 lead into the third period.
McAuley added his second goal of the game 36 seconds into the third. Kody McDonald fired a shot form the right circle that was deflected by Carter Hart to a waiting McAuley, who gave Prince George the 2-0 lead from the left side of the crease.
McDonald added an empty-net goal at 18:30 of the final period to complete the scoring.
Everett will attempt to salvage the week when it plays host to Vancouver at 7 p.m. tonight in the final contest of the current three-game homestand.
Hart finished with 27 saves, but Edmonds was perfect in turning aside 27 attempts to earn the shutout.
Prince George outshot Everett 29-27.
Cougars 3, Silvertips 0
Prince George 0 1 2 — 3
Everett 0 0 0 — 0
1st Period—No Scoring. Penalties—Anderson P.g (major-fighting), 6:27; Leedahl Evt (major-fighting), 6:27; Gabrielle P.g (major-fighting), 7:10; Juulsen Evt (major-fighting), 7:10; Harrison P.g (10-minute misconduct), 12:35; McDonald P.g (cross checking), 13:44; Anderson P.g (major-fighting), 15:05; Laurencelle Evt (major-fighting), 15:05; Leedahl Evt (major-charging, game misconduct), 15:05; Bajkov Evt (tripping), 15:57.
2nd Period—1, Prince George, McAuley 5 (Carvalho, Morrison), 4:18 (PP). Penalties—Bajkov Evt (tripping), 2:36; Martin Evt (tripping), 5:01; Almeida P.g (too many men), 6:09; Gabrielle P.g (cross checking), 11:16; Ruopp P.g (roughing), 11:34; Harrison P.g (tripping), 16:59; Olson P.g (interference), 17:40.
3rd Period—2, Prince George, McAuley 6 (McDonald, Harrison), 0:36. 3, Prince George, McDonald 5 (Boyd), 18:30 (EN). Penalties—Martin Evt (high sticking), 13:42; Lakusta P.g (holding), 18:49.
Shots on Goal-Prince George 10-7-13-30. Everett 6-11-10-27.
Power Play Opportunities—Prince George 1 / 5; Everett 0 / 7.
Goalies—Prince George, Edmonds 9-4-1-0 (27 shots-27 saves). Everett, Hart 14-8-0-2 (29 shots-27 saves).
A—3,533
Follow Silvertips writer Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @jessegeleynse.
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