Tigers Sweep Season Series vs. Edmonton
Published on March 5, 2016 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Medicine Hat Tigers News Release
Medicine Hat, AB -- The Medicine Hat Tigers were in a must win game looking to sweep the season series against the Edmonton Oil Kings at Rexall Place Friday night. A win would put the Tigers just 4 points behind the Oil Kings for the final playoff spot.
Edmonton came out strong in front of a huge crowd of almost 15 thousand fans. The Oil Kings would get on the board 4 minutes into the game on a power play as Mason Shaw was called for a trip which put the Tigers on a 5 on 3 disadvantage. Nick Schneider was getting his 4th straight start and had his mini 64 minute shutout streak snapped. Steven Owre late in the period would get the Tigers back in the game on a power play of their own. Ty Stanton found Owre with a pass and the 19 year old potted his 16th of the season to knot things up at 1 heading into the break.
The second period saw the Oil Kings pepper Schneider with 17 shots, but only one puck found the back of the net. Cole Kehler netted his 16th of the season to tie the game at 2's after a Max Gerlach power play goal to kick start the frame. For Gerlach it was his team leading 27th of the season. Just at the midway point of the frame Ryan Jevne broke a 33 game goalless drought with his 5th of the season. For Jevne his goal put him to 9 points, 6 of which have come against the Oil Kings. Medicine Hat would get a late power play but couldn't capitalize on the opportunity. The game saw the Tigers hold a 3-2 lead into the intermission.
A lightning fast third period had Edmonton fans cheering before they could come back with their refreshments. Lane Bauer scored 10 seconds into the period off the opening faceoff to tie the game at 3. Just 1:19 later Kehler potted his second of the game and just before you could blink the Oil Kings took a 4-3 lead. The lead would hold until the dying minutes of the game as the Tigers pressed hard for the equalizer. Then the unthinkable happened....
Max Gerlach would bury his second of the night and 28th of the season with just under 2 minutes left, for one of the biggest goals of the rookie's WHL career so far. Heading to overtime was not good enough for the Tigers, they wanted and needed the win in regulation. Ask and you shall receive was on the mind's of Tiger fans as Matt Bradley buried his 22nd of the year with 31 seconds left in the game to put the Tabbies up 5-4. Edmonton would pull the goalie trying desperately to get it tied, but to no avail.
THREE STARS OF THE GAME:
1. MATT BRADLEY - MH - (1G, 1A, GWG)
2. COLTON KEHLER - EDM - (2G)
3. ANDREW KOEP - EDM - (2A)
Medicine Hat will try and take advantage of an idle Edmonton squad when they host the Swift Current Broncos Saturday night at the Canalta Centre.
Western Hockey League Stories from March 5, 2016
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- Winterhawks Fall 2-1 in Seattle Saturday - Portland Winterhawks
- Kamloops gets past Kelowna - Kelowna Rockets
- Tigers Can't Corral Broncos - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Hockey Hounds Game Worn Jersey Draw - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Blades Rebound To Get Back In The Win Collum - Saskatoon Blades
- Rylan Parenteau makes 31 saves in Prince Albert victory over Lethbridge - Prince Albert Raiders
- Rockets Athletic Therapist Scott Hoyer Honoured by BC Hockey Hall - Kelowna Rockets
- Rockets Athletic Therapist Scott Hoyer Honoured by BC Hockey Hall of Fame - Kelowna Rockets
- Game Day Report: Blazers Take on Rockets for Second Straight Night - Kamloops Blazers
- Blazers Beat Rockets 3-2 on CCM Propac Night - Kamloops Blazers
- Wheat Kings Rally Sinks Warriors - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Tigers Sweep Season Series vs. Edmonton - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Game 66: March 5 vs. Swift Current - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Blazers Take Weekend Opener 3-2 in Kamloops - Kelowna Rockets
- Bow Bedevils Tips to Put T-Birds in First Place - Seattle Thunderbirds
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- Americans' Road Woes Continue, Lose 5-3 to Portland - Tri-City Americans
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