Tyler Lowey

Hitmen take game – Tigers take the Central Division title

Calgary 3 @Medicine Hat 1

This was probably not the way that the Medicine Hat Tigers (35-27-8-0) wanted to clinch the Central Division title. Despite dropping a 3-1 contest to the Calgary Hitmen (22-36-9-2), due to three, third period goals, a Lethbridge loss, sealed the ninth division title in Tigers franchise history.

The reason the Hitmen were within striking distance of the Tigers, was because of their goalie, Nick Schneider. He stopped 26 shots over the first two periods against Medicine Hat and 36 of 37 overall, to take his 20th win this season and 96th career WHL victory.

The Tigers finally solved Schneider in the third period as Dylan MacPherson netted his fourth 12 seconds into the final frame. 

The Hitmen answered back over six minutes later. Tristen Nielsen beat Michael Bullion to extend his point streak to seven games. He has 11 points in that time span.

Riley Stotts netted the eventual game winner on the power play with 6:59 left. Carson Focht set him up for his second assist on the night. He has six points in the last three games.

Conner Chaulk then added an empty netter off a feed from Vladislav Yeryomenko. The blue liner had his second assist on the night and now has 40 points this year.

Bullion stopped 20 of 22.

Medicine Hat is now 3-2-1-0 vs Calgary, while the Hitmen are 3-2-1-0 against the Tigers.

The Tigers are 21-10-4-0 at home.

The Hitmen are 8-18-7-2 on the road.

Jordan Hollett is now out day-to-day. He still did not dress for the Tigers and Bullion continues to get a heavy dose of the Tigers net.

The Hitmen head back home to take on Kootenay on Wednesday. The Tigers are off until Friday when they battle with the Lethbridge Hurricanes.