The Cougars picked up their 21st win of the season Saturday night in Boissevain in a 6-1 win over the Interlake Lightning.
The Cats had knocked off Yellowhead earlier in the week with a 2-1 win and finished the week with a 5-1 loss to the Winnipeg Wild in the city. The Cougars’ battle with the Chiefs, who they trail in the standings, was a must-win game and the Cougars did that with a Cory King goal in the second period for the win.
Parker Malchuk opened the scoring when his point shot found the twine seconds after they went on a power play at 10:25.
Popped in the biscuit
Callum Fortin scored on the backhand from Hunter Andrew and Cory King to even the score five minutes later. On the winning goal Cory King grabbed the puck and danced in and deposited the biscuit behind Jeremy Dutcawich in the Chiefs net with an unassisted marker.
Riley Wallace turned aside 36 shots for the win while the Cougars fired 28 on the Chiefs’ net. The win pulled the Cougars to within three points of the Chiefs.
Saturday’s game
Saturday night the Cougars returned to Boissevain for the first time in 10 years and in front of a boisterous crowd skated away with a convincing 6-1 win.
The Atom-aged players from the area took to the ice before the opening faceoff and then surrounded the Cougars following the game for autographs.
The Lightning struck first when Eric Krywy opened the scoring at 4:20 when he snapped one past Randy Cooke in the Cougars net. Cooke was tested early in the game and made a couple of big stops to keep the game close until Leighton Holstein tied the score from Tanner Andrew and Cory King before the midway point of the period.
Callum Fortin broke the tie six minutes into the second from Tyson Kozak. Cory King and Leighton Holstein scored power play goals from Tanner Andrew before the period ended for a 4-1 lead.
The Cats increased the lead in the third as Tyson Kozak scored and Tanner Andrew finished the scoring from Hunter Andrew.
Randy Cooke was the story early in the game as the Cougars got off to a sluggish start turning aside 24 shots for the win. Josh Bond faced 39 Cougar shots.
Sunday’s game
The Cougars travelled to Winnipeg Sunday morning and couldn’t stay with the Wild who jumped out to period leads of 1-zip, and took a three-goal lead into the third before finishing the game with a convincing 5-1 win.
Callum Fortin was the only Cougar to find the net from Tyson Pringle and Tyson Kozak late in the third.
Riley Wallace turned aside 34 Wild shots while the Cougars had 32 on Miles Minor in the loss.
Cory King, who is leading the Cougars in scoring, was named the defense player for January in the AAA league with two goals and 12 assists in 10 games. Riley Wallace earned goalie of the month with six wins including a shutout and a 9.33 save percentage.
The Cougars are on the road this weekend and then have a four-game home stand including a game in Waskada versus Eastman on Sunday, Feb. 18.
