Tigers Retake Series Lead with 8-2 Win over Pats
WHL Medicine Hat Tigers

Tigers Retake Series Lead with 8-2 Win over Pats

Published on April 1, 2026 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Medicine Hat Tigers News Release


Regina, SK - The Tigers took on the Pats for game three of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals on Tuesday, March 31st in the Brandt Centre.

The Tigers came out of the gate with a vengeance looking to follow up Saturday's loss with a strong performance. The physicality that has been prevalent all series continued into Tuesday's game with hits and scrums during and after play as both teams played hard.

Both clubs put up double-digit shots with Medicine Hat outshooting Regina 13-12 in the first period. Plenty of action in both ends made for a high-energy game from the start.

Regina thought they were the first on the board but their goal was called off due to Zach Moore scoring with a broken stick.

Yaroslav Bryzgalov broke the scoreless tie with his second goal of the playoffs at 7:47. Bryzgalov took advantage of a wide-open lane and fired a quick shot five-hole to make it 1-0 Tigers.

Kade Stengrim made it 2-0 Tabbies with a beautiful backhand goal from in tight after some nice passes from Josh Van Mulligen and Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll at 13:54.

The Pats best opportunity of the first frame came when Keets Fawcett was awarded a penalty shot, but Jordan Switzer stood tall to keep the Tigers lead.

The Tigers added one more goal to their lead from Bryce Pickford before the end of the period. Pickford ripped a wrist shot from the slot for his second goal of the playoffs to make it 3-0 Tigers heading into the first intermission.

Regina came out stronger in the second period finally getting past Switzer with Ruslan Karimov's second of the playoffs at 0:43.

Medicine Hat answered back with back-to-back gorgeous goals from Andrew Basha. The Calgary Flames prospect's first of the playoffs was a simple walk in from the left side that turned dangerous quickly as he fired a quick shot to make it 4-1 Tigers at 9:53.

Basha's second straight goal came on the power play as he fired another unbelievable wrist shot, this time from the right circle. The shot banked off the post, the crossbar, then the back bar and out before anyone could react. A jaw dropping shot from Basha had the Tigers up 5-1.

The Pats answered back quickly with Liam Pue's first playoff goal of his career at 12:54.

Just before the end of the period Carter Cunningham netted his first career playoff goal to add to the Tigers lead. Cunningham sent a wrist shot from the top of the left circle to put the Tigers up 6-2 at the second intermission.

After outshooting the Pats 11-9 in the middle frame, the Tigers dominated even more in the third period outshooting them 17-5.

The Tabbies capped off their incredible performance with a pair of goals in the third period. The first came from Noah Davidson at 11:56. Gavin Kor fed Davidson in the slot who fired a wrist shot for his first career playoff goal.

Gordon-Carroll tallied his second of the playoffs when he picked up a rebound from in tight at 12:11 to secure the Tigers win with a final score of 12:11. The Tigers took a 2-1 series lead.

Special Teams:

PP: 1/4 - 25.0%

PK: 3/4 - 75.0%

Stringam Law Three Stars:

Andrew Basha (2G) - Medicine Hat

Jordan Switzer (27SH - 25SV) - Medicine Hat

Bryce Pickford (1G, 1A) - Medicine Hat

Supplement King Hardest Worker:

Cam Parr

The Tigers will take on the Pats in game four of the first round on Wednesday, April 1st in the Brandt Centre.

Check out the Medicine Hat Tigers Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from April 1, 2026


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