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WHL Medicine Hat Tigers

Tigers Tough Third Period Results in 5-4 Loss

October 25, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Medicine Hat Tigers News Release


Medicine Hat, AB -- The Medicine Hat Tigers were looking to avoid dropping their second straight game on the weekend, welcoming the Saskatoon Blades to the Canalta Centre. On Friday night the Tabbies dropped a hard fought game with the Red Deer Rebels 3-1.

The game started well for the orange and black in front of 4508 spectators. Just 5 minutes into the game rookie Caleb Fantillo picked up a loose puck from Chad Butcher and fired home his second of the season past Blades goaltender Brock Hamm. Past the midway point of the frame, the Tigers would allow a goal as import Libor Hajek made a nice play off the side wall and found the top corner for his second of the season and 4th point in his last 2 games.

But before the buzzer would sound on the 1st period rookie call-up Josh McNeil made his impression in a Tigers uniform as he would bury his 1st ever WHL goal on a nice setup from veteran Steven Owre. The surprise in his eyes through his cage was evident as he celebrated with his teammates. The Tigers would lead 2-1 after 20 minutes despite being outshot 11-7.

The middle frame started with a push from the visitors as they tried to climb back into the game. Medicine Hat held off the waves of pressure with the help of Austin Lotz. Lotz once again was brilliant in net on this night, making unbelieveable stops including doing the complete splits to slide across and rob Cameron Hebig point blank.

Saskatoon's pressure mounted in an early goal to knot the game at 2 goals a piece as another import Nikita Soshnin netted his 4th of the year just a minute in. Play would come to a stand still as the team's felt each other out and tried to capitalize on the other's mistakes. Lost in the mix was a big hit by Luke Gingras on David Quenneville along the side wall. The 17 year old defenseman was shaken up on the play and did not return.

Before the period ran out, Matt Bradley would score a beauty of a goal as he skated around the entire zone before patiently firing a wrist shot past Hamm. On the play McNeil recorded an assist, his 2nd career point. Ty Stanton would increase the lead on a power play as the Tigers first unit put the pressure on the Blades. Stanton let go a wrister from the blue line past a screened Hamm, the goal pulled the netminder from the game, being replaced by other Blades 'tender Nik Amundrud.

The goaltending change seemed to work for the Blades as they came out with tons of pressure on the forecheck and Tigers defense. Their forecheck would be the cause of 2 goals in the frame, one by Josh Paterson and the other the game winner by Josh Uhrich who was found by 16 year old Logan Christiansen out front to score with only 2 minutes left in the game to solidify a Blades comeback and a 5-4 victory.

THREE STARS OF THE GAME:

1. CAMERON HEBIG - SAS - (2A)

2. MATT BRADLEY - MH - (1G)

3. JOSH PATERSON - SAS - (2G)

The Tigers are back in action for a weekday home game against the visiting Spokane Chiefs, the first US Division team to make a visit to the Canalta Centre.

Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.ca or by calling 1-855-985-5000!

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