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HomeNewsA Taylor made victory for the Cougars

A Taylor made victory for the Cougars

Taylor Gauthier ice(d) his best game in the WHL.

The Prince George rookie goalie was superb with 40 saves, including 17 in the third period, to lead the Cougars to a 3-1 victory over the Kootenay Ice Tuesday night.

Kootenay out shot the Cats 41-28 before 2,356 fans at the CN Centre.

The 16-year-old lowered his goals-against-average (GAA) to 2.82, third best in the WHL.

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“Goats was really good tonight. Again we have to temper enthusiasm because he’s 16. This was a terrific night for him and you expect that with being drafted high (9th overall, 2016 WHL Bantam Draft) and what not. But like every 16-year-old he’s going to have highs and lows and goods and bads and tonight he was on a high. He was excellent,” said Cougars Associate Head Coach Steve O’Rourke on 94.3 the GOAT’s post-game show.

Josh Maser broke a 1-1 tie by scoring midway through the last period before sealing the victory with an empty-netter in the final minute.

Cougars 17-year-old import rookie Pavel Azhgirei tallied just 2:56 into the game, his first WHL goal.

“After my goal I felt unbelievable,” stated an enthusiastic Azhgirei, who just starting learning English this year.

16-year-old rookie Peyton Krebs scored for Kootenay early in the second.

The Cougars were zero-for-two (O/2) and the Ice zero-for-six (0/6) on the power play.

Kootenay failed to scored on a two-man advantage for the first 1:56 of the third period.

It was the first time in 11 games the Cougars did not allow a power-play goal.

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The 11-14-2-2 Cougars are 2-1 on a five-game home-stand that will continue with a doubleheader against the BC Division leading Victoria Royals (18-10-3) Sunday at 2PM and Tuesday at 7PM.

PG is tied with Kamloops are tied for last in the BC Division, four points behind third place Vancouver.

The Giants beat Portland 5-3 in Langley.

The Cougars trail Seattle by three points for the last wild-card spot.

The Thunderbirds got by Saskatoon 3-1 as the home teams won all five WHL games on Tuesday.

WATCH:

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