Calgary 5 Prince George 1

Victor Rask netted two goals in a first star performance as the Calgary Hitmen defeated the Prince George Cougars 5-1 Friday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Joe Kornelsen, Alex Gogolev and Calder Brooks also scored for the Hitmen who built period leads of 2-0 and 4-1.

Brady Brassart (3a) picked up three points in the win while Spencer Humphries chipped in a pair of assists.

Chris Driedger made 18 saves for Calgary who outshot the Cougars 44-19.  Driedger recorded his third win in as many starts for a season total of 12.

The Hitmen, now 26-17-2-1 on the season, sit seventh in the WHL Eastern Conference with 55 points, six points ahead of eighth place Brandon and one point behind sixth place Regina.

Calgary hosts the Red Deer Rebels at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 22.  The Hitmen will also welcome Brandon on Wednesday, January 25 and Vancouver on Friday, January 27 before heading back out on the road.
                                                   Photo Credit:  Brad Watson

Prince George Cougars 1 at Calgary Hitmen 5
Friday, January 20, 2012 - Scotiabank Saddledome - Calgary, AB

Prince George 0 1 0 - 1
Calgary 2 2 1 - 5

1st Period
1, Calgary, Kornelsen 7 (Brooks, Humphries), 13:22.
2, Calgary, Rask 18 (Brassart), 14:25.
Penalties-Trzonkowski Cal (checking from behind), 5:51; Elynuik P.g (inter. on goaltender), 6:16; Brooks Cal (high sticking), 9:34; Trzonkowski Cal (major-fighting), 16:11; Jackson P.g (tripping), 16:22.

2nd Period
3, Prince George, Tkatch 11 (Fontaine), 2:55.
4, Calgary, Gogolev 19 (Brassart, Macek), 8:46 (PP).
5, Calgary, Rask 19 (Humphries, Brassart), 18:30 (PP).
Penalties-Rissling Cal (interference), 4:51; Elynuik P.g (interference), 6:13; Fontaine P.g (high sticking), 6:57; Humphries Cal (hooking), 12:35; Carlson P.g (hooking), 14:22; Asuchak P.g (roughing), 15:16; Bubnick Cal (roughing), 15:16; Forsberg P.g (hooking), 17:50.

3rd Period
6, Calgary, Brooks 5 (Trzonkowski, Clayton), 5:48.
Penalties-Mykitiuk P.g (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 6:33; Forsberg P.g (roughing, 10-minute misconduct), 6:57; Roach Cal (roughing, major - checking to the head, game misconduct), 6:57; Forsberg P.g (10-minute misconduct), 9:52; Siwak P.g (slashing), 9:52; Brooks Cal (high sticking, high sticking), 15:58; Fraser P.g (inter. on goaltender), 17:24; Elynuik P.g (major-fighting, game misconduct), 17:36; Carlson P.g (major-fighting), 19:38; Sutherland Cal (major-fighting), 19:38; Trzonkowski Cal (high sticking), 19:38.

Shots on Goal-Prince George 5-8-6-19. Calgary 15-13-16-44.
Power Play Opportunities-Prince George 0 / 5; Calgary 2 / 8.
Goalies-Prince George, Owsley 14-24-0-1 (44 shots-39 saves). Calgary, Driedger 12-7-2-1 (19 shots-18 saves).
A-9,624
Referees-Ryan Bonnett (39), Devin Klein (9).
Linesmen-Jeff Jobson (52), Steve Cochrane (125).