Jake Neighbours scored a power-play goal 36 seconds into overtime to defeat the Prince George Cougars 2-1 Saturday afternoon in WHL preseason action in Dawson Creek.
The Cougars were killing a high-sticking penalty to Fillip Koffer which carried over from the third period when Neighbours hooked up with teammates Wyatt McLeod and Riley Sawchuck on the scoring play which ended the game.
The goal was one of only two allowed on 39 shots Cougars goalie Taylor Gauthier faced. It was Gauthier's only preseason test, having just returned from the Boston Bruins' rookie camp. Sawchuck opened the scoring in the first period on an Edmonton power play.
The Cougars goal came 19:03 into the second period while they were on a power play. Jackson Leppard was awarded a penalty shot and made good on his chance for his first goal of the preseason. He outwaited Dylan Myskiw and slid the puck through the legs of the Edmonton goaltender.
Myskiw played the first two periods and stopped 28 of 29 shots, replaced for the third period by Sebastian Cossa, who made 12 saves. The Cougars outshot the Oil Kings 41-39.
Edmonton went undefeated through the exhibition season with a perfect 5-0-0-0 record. The Cougars (0-4-1-0) went winless.
They'll open their 26th season in Prince George next Friday at CN Centre when they take on the Vancouver Giants in the first of a two-game weekend set.
WHL preseason at Dawson Creek
Saturday summary
Oil Kings 2 Cougars 1 (OT)
First Period
1. Edmonton, Sawchuk 4 (Gavlas, Souch) 7:47 (pp)
Second Period
2. Prince George, Leppard 1, 19:52 (pp, ps)
Third Period
No scoring
Overtime
3. Edmonton, Neighbours 3 (McLeod, Sawchuk) 0:36 (pp)
Shots on goal by
Prince George 41
Edmonton 39
Goal - Prince George, Gauthier (39-37; Edmonton; Myskiw (29-28) and at 0:00 of third, Cossa (12-12).
Power plays - Prince George: 0-2; Edmonton: 2-6.
