In a back and forth game it was the Medicine Hat Tigers prevailing 3-2 in a shootout over the rival Lethbridge Hurricanes.
A third-round save by rookie netminder Garin Bjorklund sealed the deal for the visiting Tigers who snap a two-game losing skid while ending the six-game winning streak of the Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes started this game behind the eight ball, taking a penalty just eight seconds into the game, Tigers immediately capitalized on the chance, 36 seconds in James Hamblin snapped home his sixth of the season. Assists on the powerplay goal were credited to Brett Kemp and Cole Sillinger.
The visitors continued to press, creating chances and turnovers, testing Hurricanes’ goaltender Carl Tetachuk from every angle but unable to beat him. Tetatchuk keeping his team in this game with 16 first period saves.
That became the theme of the night, Tetatchuk keeping his team in this one and giving them a chance the win.
Lethbridge pulled even late in the first period when Oliver Okulair scored his eighth of the season on the powerplay. Dylan Cozens and Alex Cotton with the helpers. That goal came at the tail end of a two-man advantage.
The Tigers did not let up into the second period, continuing to pepper the goal of Tetachuk, but it was more of the same story. The home town native stood strong and made 16 more saves including a couple of high danger stops.
The game seemed to be in a stalemate until a bit of magic from Dylan Cozens who pulled off a gorgeous move driving the net around two defenders and tucking it in under a sprawled out Bjorklund and giving the Hurricanes a 2-1 lead. Cozens’ tenth goal of the season.
The third period was a back and forth affair and the goaltending at both ends stole the show.
That was until the Tigers received a powerplay chance. Elijah Brown snapped a beautiful shot that managed to find a way through. Brown tying the game 2-2 with his third of the season.
Cozens had a chance to quickly respond but his backhanded attempt on a breakaway was turned aside by Bjorklund. So off to overtime.
In overtime, Medicine Hat has the early chance and pressure but once again it was Tetachuk keeping them at bay. With two big stops and allowing his team a breather. It was the Hurricanes who were gifted a huge opportunity with a powerplay moments after. But an impressive penalty kill by the Tigers and we needed a shootout to decide this one.
In the shootout, Dylan Cozens, Dino Kambietz, and Logan Barlage all stopped in their shootout attempts for the Hurricanes. While James Hamblin scored for the Tigers in round two of the shootout that ended up being the winner, giving his team the 3-2 win.
Coach Brent Kisio didn’t mince words when asked his thoughts on the contest “I thought Medicine Hat was the better team, I thought Tetachuk kept us in the game. Our special teams have to be better. They got two power play goals and we got one-for-six and that wasn’t good enough. We had a couple of chances late to end the game and we have to find a way to end that game on our power play.”
Kisio gave all the credit to his star netminder for keeping the team in this one “He was outstanding, played really strong and you know he gave us a chance to win when a goalie does that for you have to find a way to win.”
Dylan Cozens echoed the words of his coach prasing his teammate ” Yeah, He played unreal game for us. They could have had a lot more goals if he wasn’t dialed in like that tonight. Made a lot of good saves and he really kept us in the game.”
The Sabres draft pick went on to display his disappointment in the result of the game “Obviously getting down right away 1-0 on the penalty kill wasn’t ideal, but we battled back and we got the lead, We just have to find a way to close that out. We had lots of power plays and we got one, but we have to find a way to get more goals. That’s on our power-play, we have to step that up. The other big thing is in our d-zone. We have to stick on our guys. They’re slipping through and finding lots of chances. We turned too many pucks over in the neutral zone and they got chances the other way. So that’s on us. We know we need to be better.”
Tetachuk gave credit where it was due after the game, not wanting the praise himself “It’s a big rivalry between us, both teams are really talented. They got opportunities and we got opportunities, but we had to bear down at the end.”
Shooting the Breeze: The loss ends a six-game winning streak for the Hurricanes, On the flip side the win stopped a mini skid of two games for the Tigers. Special teams played a small role in this one. Hurricanes only managed one goal on six chances a man up while the Tigers finished 2-4.
The three stars 1- Carl Tetachuk, 2- Dylan Cozens, 3- James Hamblin.
Medicine Hat continue their nine-game road trip in BC as they travel to Victoria for a date with the Royals next week. Lethbridge also now hits the road, they head east for a double-dip in Winnipeg for their first-ever games against the relocated Ice team, they will play Wednesday and Friday in Manitoba.
