Tigers Fall in Overtime for First Loss of the Season to the Blades
September 30, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Medicine Hat Tigers News Release
Medicine Hat, AB - The Medicine Hat Tigers would fall for the first time in the 2023-2024 season with a 3-2 overtime loss to the Saskatoon Blades Saturday night at Co-op Place.
The first period started off with 6 whistles in the first two minutes but soon after that, the Blades would get out to an early advantage when it came to pressure and shots out shooting the Tigers 7-0 at one point. But Tigers starting goaltender Evan May (Nanaimo, BC) would stand tall for his fourth consecutive start.
Medicine Hat would run into penalty trouble and handed an early 5-on-3 but the Tigers would withstand the Saskatoon attack and kill off the infractions.
Despite being outshot 13-10, both teams would remain scoreless after one.
The home side would break the deadlock as Tomas Mrsic (Surrey, BC) would cash in on a breakaway chance set up by Gavin McKenna (Whitehorse, YT) & Josh Van Mulligen (Medicine Hat, AB) at 4:10. Plenty of action and less whistles were in store for almost ten minutes before Brandon Lisowsky would give the Blades the equalizer at 14:34 from Trevor Wong, but Shane Smith Cessford, AB) just 14 seconds later would make it 2-1 at 14:49.
For the four straight game, the Tigers would take a lead heading into the third period, up 2-1.
The third period would see plenty of opportunities to see the Tigers put things away but couldn't solve Austin Elliott firing 11 shots at him including a pair of late power plays, but the Blades would get the equalizer late in the third.
Right after another successful penalty kill by the Tigers, Tanner Molendyk would shoot home the game-tying goal at 15:08 which would force overtime.
In the the 3 on 3 affair the Blades would complete their comeback thanks to Egor Sidorov's 1st of the season, sneaking a shot past Evan May with the puck just trickling over the line to give the Blades their second win of the season and the Tigers first loss of 2023-2024 with just 52 seconds left in extra time.
Medicine Hat would outshoot the Blades 31-29, while the penalty kill picked up their 3rd clean sheet of the season going 8/8. But the power play was unable to formulate a goal going 0/4.
Next up for the Tigers, a road trip to Regina to battle the Pats for the first time this season, on Wednesday, October 4.
Western Hockey League Stories from September 30, 2023
- Nhl Returnees Come Up Big In Blades' 3-2 Overtime Win Vs Tigers - Saskatoon Blades
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- Preview: Oil Kings vs. Lethbridge Hurricanes - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Warriors Sweep Week; Top Pats in Overtime Saturday - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Hawks Play Spoiler, Rout Seattle 6-1 - Portland Winterhawks
- Chadwick Pitches 24-Save Shutout, Silvertips Best Blazers 5-0 - Everett Silvertips
- Spokane Chiefs Honor Wildfire First Responders, Fall to Rival Americans 3-1 in Rowdy Home Opener - Spokane Chiefs
- Hawks Rout T-Birds 6-1 in Seattle - Portland Winterhawks
- Cougars Sweep Weekend in Victoria with a 5-3 Victory - Prince George Cougars
- Tigers Fall in Overtime for First Loss of the Season to the Blades - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Ward Scores Twice, But Broncos Fall to Wheat Kings - Swift Current Broncos
- Pats Fight to Gather Point in Overtime Loss - Regina Pats
- Wheat Kings Bounce Back, Double Up Broncos - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Preview: Americans at Chiefs - September 30 - Tri-City Americans
- Chiefs Host Rival Americans in 2023-24 Home Opener Saturday - Spokane Chiefs
- Cougars Looking for 4 Points to Wrap up Road Trip in Victoria - Prince George Cougars
- Game Day Preview: Game 4 vs Saskatoon - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Game Day Hub: September 30 at Seattle - Portland Winterhawks
- Blazers Defeat Giants 5-1 - Vancouver Giants
- Parascak's 6 Point Night Helps Cougars to Dominant Victory Over Royals - Prince George Cougars
- Wild Battle Back Twice, But Fall to Everett in Overtime Friday - Wenatchee Wild
- Rocha and Hvidston Shine as Broncos Defeat Hitmen for First Win - Swift Current Broncos
- Warriors Take Out Wheat Kings On Friday Night - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Pats Battle Back, But Fall Short in Prince Albert - Regina Pats
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