WHL Medicine Hat Tigers

Tigers Can't Find Offense in 5-2 Loss

Published on December 30, 2015 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Medicine Hat Tigers News Release


Medicine Hat, AB - The Holiday break has come and gone for the Medicine Hat Tigers and the Tabbies are surely in the hunt for the final 2 playoff spots this season. Coming into Tuesday's rematch with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Medicine Hat sat just 4 points back of the final wildcard position, while Lethbridge was looking to stay on top of the Eastern Conference.

Canes goaltender Stuart Skinner had his game on Tuesday as Medicine Hat would throw 18 shots on goal in the opening period. Skinner was tested from the puck drop as 11 seconds in Ty Stanton wristed a puck on net which was deflected, but Skinner stuck the glove out and made a sliding save, denying the Tigers their first goal. Two minutes later the WHL's #1 ranked power play went to work and Tyler Wong potted his 23rd of the season to open the scoring. In the late stages of the period Matt Bradley took a pass from Caleb Fantillo and cut to the middle of the ice. Bradley fired far side and scored his 11th of the year post and in, knotting the game at 1's. With less than a minute in the period, Kord Pankewicz found a loose puck at the side of the net and whacked home his 3rd of the year giving the home side a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes.

In the middle frame the game saw a tight defensive system put up by the Hurricanes, not allowing the Tigers to gain the zone, especially on their only power play of the period. Medicine Hat would generate 10 shots on goal but Skinner was once again there to shut the door on this night. The lone goal scored in the period went to Lethbridge when Giorgio Estephan netted his 17th of the year with 2 minutes left, increasing the lead to 3-1, still salvagable for the Tigers.

The final period saw the Canes finally pull away from the Tigers as they netted two goals past Nick Schneider, who made his second consecutive start against Lethbridge. First, it was Arvin Atwal who potted his 6th of the year with a seeing eye shot from the point on the power play. Schneider was screened by 4 players as Atwal found the shooting lane to extend the lead to 4-1. Canes captain Tyler Wong then took advantage of a Tigers turnover in front of their net and lifted the stick of a defender in orange and black. Wong quickly roofed his 24th and second goal of the game to put a 5-1 seal on the game.

Late in the game Chad Butcher drove the net and Max Gerlach fed over a nice pass which never got to his teammate but instead went off Butcher's leg and rolled over the goal line putting a silver lining on the game, making it 5-2, the eventual final.

THREE STARS OF THE GAME:

1. GIORGIO ESTEPHAN - LETH - (1G, 2A)

2. STUART SKINNER - LETH - (43 SAVES, W)

3. TYLER WONG - LETH - (2G, 1A)

Medicine Hat will play their final game of 2015 on the final day of the year Thursday in Moose Jaw to take on the Warriors before opening the 2016 calendar with a date at home against Edmonton.

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Western Hockey League Stories from December 30, 2015


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