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Medicine Hat Tigers

Tigers Handed 2-1 Defeat Wednesday Night

April 2, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Medicine Hat Tigers News Release


Medicine Hat, AB -- It is a repetitious saying already just three games into the opening playoff round between the Tigers and the Red Deer Rebels, it is a tight checking series. Game 3 was no different as the Rebels would see a 1-0 lead through 40 minutes of action before cutting into the series lead with a 2-1 victory.

There wasn't much to say about the opening frame except that it was a momentum filled 20 minutes for the Rebels as they wanted to come out strong in front of their home crowd for the first time this postseason. The Tigers did a good job weathering the storm so to speak from Red Deer as Marek Langhamer stopped 10 of 11 shots. The only one that got by him was on a loose puck after a point shot from Kayle Doetzel eluded the Tigers netminder and teammate Scott Feser potted the puck into the yawning cage. It was the first lead for the Rebels in the series. Each team had a power play to work on in the period, the Tigers had an electric man advantage with good puck movement and lots of shots, collecting 10 in the period.

The second period saw no goals reach the back of the net in a period that was dominated by the Tigers as they pushed back with their speed and skill to get the Rebels on their heels for the 20 minute frame. Medicine Hat would outshoot the Rebels 13-6 in the period with 3 of the Rebels shots coming on a late power play. Both teams were buzzing in the period as the game got physical causing turnovers which led to chances for the Tigers. Dryden Hunt who has been held goalless in the series so far had multiple great chances to bury his first goal but Rylan Toth had an answer on all attempts holding the Rebels to a 1-0 lead after 40 minutes.

The final frame saw two shots turn on the red light, one for each side as the Rebels would climb to a 2 goal lead just before the midway point of the period. Grayson Pawlenchuk and Wyatt Johnson closed in on a 2 on 0 and one pass later the home side had a 2-0 lead. Medicine Hat would cut into that lead moments later when 50 goal man Cole Sanford picked off a pass at the Rebels blue line and dangled his way to an incredible highlight reel goal. Medicine Hat would come super close to tying the game with under 2 minutes left as Tyler Lewington's wrist shot found it's way past Toth but striked the post dead on and out, coming inches to sending the game to an extra frame.

TIGERS FAST FACTS

Scoring first, the Rebels picked up their first lead of the series last night as the Tigers held the lead in the first two games Trevor Cox had his 9 game point streak snapped last night, meanwhile Cole Sanford is riding a 4 game point streak dating back to the final regular season home game Tigers goaltender Marek Langhamer has started the last 11 of 12 games for Medicine Hat, posting 3 shutouts in that span The loss was the Tigers 4th straight away from home in the playoffs dating back to last season

Three Stars of the Game:

1. Rylan Toth - RD - (34 saves, W)

2. Wyatt Johnson - RD - (1G, GWG)

3. Marek Langhamer - MH - (29 saves)

Game 4 of the series goes tonight in Red Deer and then will shift back to Medicine Hat on Saturday for game 5.

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Western Hockey League Stories from April 2, 2015


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