Second Period Goal Rush Leads to Tigers 6-2 Victory Over Hurricanes
December 13, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Medicine Hat Tigers News Release
Lethbridge, AB - Three goals in the final five minutes of the second period proved to be the difference Wednesday night as the Medicine Hat Tigers defeated the Lethbridge Hurricanes for the first time this season, 6-2.
A busy first period saw both teams with opportunities but it would be Lethbridge responding first at 12:49 as Tyson Zimmer would take his transition shot and beat Tigers starter Ethan McCallum (Brandon, MB) to make it 1-0 Hurricanes. But the Tigers would counter on a late turnover behind the Hurricanes net and Kadon McCann (Cochrane, AB) would find Vasyl Spilka (Liberec, CZE) for his second of the season beating Brady Smith with 58 seconds left in the first which would carry over into the 2nd period at 1-1.
The second period would see the same results for the Tigers as they give up the first goal at 10:45 as Trae Wilke would give the Hurricanes a 2-1 lead. But 4:55 later the Tigers would start their late 2nd period rally as Cayden Lindstrom (Chetwynd, BC) would win a net front scramble putting home his 25th of the season from Tyler MacKenzie (Red Deer, AB) & Josh Van Mulligen (Medicine Hat, AB) to tie the game at 2-2. 39 seconds later the Tigers would take their first lead of the night when on a two-on-one as Andrew Basha (Calgary, AB) would snipe his 15th of the year from Shane Smith Smith (Cessford, AB) and it's 3-2 Tigers. But into the final minute it's another play from behind the Lethbridge net and Shane Smith would net his 16th from Gavin McKenna (Whitehorse, YT) with 58 seconds left to make it 4-2 Medicine Hat going to the third period.
The Tigers would add to their lead as Oasiz Wiesblatt (Calgary, AB) would back-hand his 10th of the season past Brady Smith at 9:10 from Van Mulligen for his second point of the night.
Cayden Lindstrom would close out the scoring at 13:05 as he would shelf his second of the night and 26th of the season to make it 6-2 Medicine Hat.
With the win the Tigers move to 20-8-2 on the season, nine points clear of the Swift Current Broncos atop the Central Division. With their 2/2 penalty kill tonight, the Tigers have had eight clean sheets in their last nine games.
Next up for the Tigers, a date with the Calgary Hitmen on Friday, December 15 at Scotiabank Saddledome before returning home for their final game before the holiday break against Lethbridge on December 16.
Western Hockey League Stories from December 13, 2023
- Second Period Goal Rush Leads to Tigers 6-2 Victory Over Hurricanes - Medicine Hat Tigers
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