WHL Medicine Hat Tigers

Tigers Comeback But Fall in a Shootout

Published on February 24, 2016 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Medicine Hat Tigers News Release


Medicine Hat, AB - On Tuesday night the Tigers welcomed a special guest in Mahoney to play during the intermissions and during the game of play. On the ice the Tigers and Regina Pats battled their way to a 8 round shootout in order to decide the extra point.

Regina would get on the board first in what was Cole Sanford's return to the Canalta Centre for the first and last time. Austin Wagner picked off a pass at centre ice and wristed a puck from the side wall which fooled starter Mack Shields shortside, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead just 1:21 in. However it was a game of firsts for Medicine Hat when Zach Fischer, who had battled injuries over the course of this season, netted his 1st of the year on a bang/bang play from Brad Forrest. Before the period would come to a close however, Rykr Cole, in similar fashion to Wagner's goal, netted just his 9th of the year to give the Pats a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes.

In the second period, Medicine Hat tried to claw back but it seemed the Pats pushed the gas pedal down on the team who was playing their 4th game in 5 nights. Shields would slam the door shut only allowing 1 goal on 16 shots in the period. It was former Tiger Connor Hobbs who blasted home his 18th of the year on the power play to extend the lead to 3-1 after 40 minutes of play.

Special teams were the key part of the third period. Four power play goals were scored and three were in favor of the Tabbies. Clayton Kirichenko got the comeback started with his 5th of the season as the second power play unit got another one in back to back games. Five minutes later Sam Steel would net his 20th of the year on a power play of their own to give back the 2 goal lead. As mentioned before, Tuesday was a game of first's as Brian Williams showed his speed and skill when we picked off a clearing attempt at centre ice, studder stepped on a Pats defender and drove the net. Pats starter Tyler Brown was fooled at which way Williams was headed as the slick 20 year old buried his 8th of the year and first as a Tiger to cut into the lead 4-3.

With the game winding down and the Tabbies on the brink of tying the game, it was former Tiger Cole Sanford who picked up a tripping call late. The penalty would be capitalized on by Matt Bradley as a deflected David Quenneville shot came right on the tape and the 18 year old buried his 19th of the season to knot things up at 4. The remainder of the period would hold the tie game and we were headed off to overtime.

The extra period saw a couple of chances by both sides but Shields and Brown were solid, stopping just 3 shots combined.

The shootout was an extended one as it went to 8 rounds, the longest "skills competition" of the season for Medicine Hat. The Tigers would get goals from Chad Butcher and Matt Bradley, however it was Lane Zablocki who netted the shootout winner in the 8th round to give the visitors a 5-4 victory. Medicine Hat did pick up a crucial point as they try to make things interesting in the Eastern Conference.

THREE STARS OF THE GAME:

1. AUSTIN WAGNER - REG - (1G, 1A)

2. MATT BRADLEY - MH - (1G, 1A)

3. SAME STEEL - REG - (1G, 1A)

Medicine Hat will have a couple days off from competition before heading on the Trans Canada to Swift Current to face the Broncos, before coming home to take on the Wheat Kings Saturday.

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 24, 2016


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