WHL Medicine Hat Tigers

Tigers Fall to Seattle 5-2 Saturday

Published on November 8, 2015 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Medicine Hat Tigers News Release


Medicine Hat, AB -- The Medicine Hat Tigers were coming off a tough loss Friday night in overtime against the Kootenay Ice and looked to rebound with the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds in town. In front of a 4540 crowd Saturday the Tigers gave a valiant effort but could not overcome early goals in a 5-2 defeat.

Nine seconds is all it took for the visitors to get on the board Saturday as Ryan Gropp buried his 8th of the season off the opening faceoff, a crushing blow to the Tigers momentum coming out of the gate. Medicine Hat however would show great push back as they carried the play for the remainder of the frame. Zach Fischer, Caleb Fantillo and affiliate Ryan Chyzowski had a good game, creating chances and pressuring the T-birds defense. Seattle would get on the board once again on a power play as all night Medicine Hat seemed to take penalties at opportune times. Keegan Kolesar got his 11th of the season and finished the period with the two goal lead.

The middle frame had a bit of everything as the statement of the period was Seattle's star forward Matt Barzal was sent to the showers after hitting Tigers forward Steven Owre from behind. Barzal picked up a 5 minute major and a game misconduct on the play, leaving the door wide open for the Tabbies to cut into the lead. Max Gerlach continued his great rookie season offensively potting a goal just 40 seconds into the man advantage. Medicine Hat would only get the one goal on the long power play but it did not come without their fair share of chances.

On the weird side of the game, Seattle got a lucky bounce when a deflected puck was shot up into the air like it was hit with a wedge in golf. The puck carried over 2 Tigers defenders and wound up behind Nick Schneider in the net. The Tigers unsuspecting netminder had lost the puck and it was an unfortunate end to the frame as the Tigers trailed 3-1.

Gerlach would be at it again just 55 seconds into the third period. The Texas rookie fired a loose puck upstairs for his 7th of the season putting the Tigers back into the game 3-2. The comeback looked to be complete on numerous occassions as Medicine Hat would be buzzing throughout the period, coming close on Seattle netminder Logan Flodell. Medicine Hat would get themselves into some penalty trouble as two of the Tabbies best defenseman in Ty Schultz and Ty Stanton were called to head to the box, resulting in a 5 on 3 for the visitors.

Medicine Hat would do a great job on the kill until Ethan Bear would blast a one timer past Schneider, a heart breaking goal to the Tigers faithful resulting in a two goal lead. Tigers would push to climb back into the game and once on even strength their pulled the goalie looking for a quick one, however Kolesar stripped the puck from the Tigers and potted his second of the night into the empty net, sealing the game 5-2 for the visitors.

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Western Hockey League Stories from November 8, 2015


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