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WHL Medicine Hat Tigers

Tigers Tie up Series with a 3-2 Overtime Victory

April 12, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Medicine Hat Tigers News Release


Medicine Hat, AB -- In another tight checking game the Medicine Hat Tigers got a timely goal from an unlikely hero on Sunday evening as the Tigers looked to pull even and steal Game 2 in Calgary. After dropping the first game of the series in Medicine Hat, the Tigers knew they needed to take the second game and even this one up.

The opening period was very similar to the opening round with the Red Deer Rebels as the Hitmen and Tigers were engaged in a tight checking opening 20 minutes. There was not much room to move as it always seem there was a body in front of an opposing skater or a shot being blocked. Mack Shields and Marek Langhamer were in another battle against each other as Shields has secured the starter role since Brendan Burke is sidelined with injury. Langhamer stopped 9 shots in the period while Shields stopped all 16 shots his way in a scoreless first period.

The second period didn't see any scoring until late in the period when the Hitmen would take control of the scoreboard when Travis Sanheim was the recipient of a great cross crease pass from Connor Rankin to pot home his 3rd of the playoffs to kick start the scoring. But, the last minute Tigers took advantage of a power play when Trevor Cox sent a slap pass towards the net which was tipped by Dryden Hunt on goal, Shields made the save but Steven Owre was able to pot home the loose puck to knot the game at 1 with only 31 seconds left in the frame.

In the opening minutes of the third period Hunt would pot his 4th of playoffs when he collected a pass from Anthony Ast and fired a puck far side, off the post and in to give the Tigers the lead. But the lead only lasted three minutes because the Hitmen Jordy Stallard wristed a puck on net which somehow got past Langhamer and across the goal line for the tying goal. The remainder of the period was tense as the fans and players alike were trying to not make mistakes to cause the crucial game winning goal. The game headed to an extra period as we could not solve a 2-2 tie after 60 minutes.

The overtime period was tense as well as it was an up and down style of a period. The save of the playoffs may have came courtesy of Shields as he stuck the glove out on Ast point blank after he was fed a nice pass from linemate Blake Penner. Shields saved the game but couldn't save the eventual game winner....

Matt Staples, known more for his defensive prowess in his own end and a relentless forecheck rather than his scoring abilities would be named hero on this night as he carried the puck to center ice and looking for a line change dumped the puck in on Shields. The puck didn't seem to bounce was able sneak past the goaltender and into the net for the overtime winner, his first of his career.

TIGERS FAST FACTS

After only scoring 2 points in 5 games against the Rebels in the opening series, Dryden Hunt has 3 points in 2 games against Calgary Matt Staples scored his first ever WHL playoff goal and first career playoff overtime goal Marek Langhamer stopped 39 shots for his 5th victory of the playoffs In two games played, WHL playoff leading scorer Adam Tambellini has 0 points after recording 15 in 7 games

Three Stars of the Game:

1. Matt Staples - MH - (1G, GWG)

2. Travis Sanheim - CGY - (1G, 1A)

3. Dryden Hunt - MH - (1G, 1A)

These two clubs will meet again for Game 3 tomorrow night in Calgary for a 7pm puck drop as the Tigers look to take a 2-1 series lead.

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Western Hockey League Stories from April 12, 2015


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