Tigers win big in Red Deer

By Ryan McCracken on October 25, 2017.

rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com @MHNMcCracken

The bounces went Medicine Hat’s way Tuesday night at the Enmax Centre.

The Tigers benefitted from three goals off opposing players to bounce back from an early 2-1 deficit, secure a 5-2 win over the Red Deer Rebels and return home to the Canalta Centre on a high.

“We really stuck to what we do best, which is just outworking teams. I think we outworked Red Deer,” said captain Mark Rassell, whose Tigers improved to 7-4-0-0 after shaking off a 7-2 loss to the Lethbridge Hurricanes Sunday. “We talked about it in depth on Monday, we need to be better than we were on Sunday.”

While the Tigers held Red Deer without a shot for the first nine minutes of the game, the Rebels still managed to break through with the opening salvo. Tigers goaltender Michael Bullion made an initial pad stop on a Kristian Reichel backhand late in the first, but Brandon Hagel waiting on the doorstep and jammed the home to give the Rebels a narrow lead at the break.

Ryan Chyzowksi knotted things up just over 90 seconds into the middle frame. The sophomore Tigers forward deflected a low shot from newly acquired teammate Hayden Ostir past Rebels netminder Ethan Anders.

While the Rebels stole back the lead just over a minute later on a goal from Lane Zablocki, the Tabbies responded in numbers. First Ryan Jevne stepped into a pass from Dylan MacPherson and ripped the resulting slap shot through Anders to draw even, then David Quenneville bounced a puck off the skate of Rebels winger Akash Bains and into the net to give his team a lead to take into the third.

“Last year I had a much easier time getting pucks through and even just getting the puck and finding lanes to the net,” said Quenneville. “I feel like this year I’ve had a more challenging time doing that, but I’m always happy to get a good bounce.”

Quenneville has 18 points through his first 10 games of the season — 10 of which have come on the power play. Quenneville was leaned on to quarterback the man advantage last year, and says the addition of forward Jaeger White has had a big impact on special teams this season.

“You can never have too much skill on the team, and the versatility of the guy —he can shoot the puck has good hands down and can win some puck battles for us on the power play. When he’s out there it’s real key for us,” said Quenneville. “I’ve been here four years and he’s only been here about a month and a bit but I can’t say enough good things about him. He’s one of my favourite teammates I’ve ever had.”

The pinball play continued into the third, with Tyler Preziuso earning his third goal of the year after an intended cross-crease pass took a deflection off Dawson Barteaux’s skate and past Anders.

Tigers rookie Joel Craven joined the scoring parade a few minutes later on yet another fortuitous deflection. The 17-year-old defenceman was credited for his first WHL goal in the first game of his career after putting a point shot off the stick of Carson Sass and past Anders.

“It was special to be part of and I’m happy for him,” said Rassell. “Obviously with his injury and having to wait 11 games before he got to be in the lineup, getting his first goal in first game is very exciting for everyone.”

Bullion collected the victory with a 30-save effort. Anders took the 22-save loss, dropping Red Deer to 6-6-0-0 on the season. Lasse Petersen stopped five in relief of Anders.

The Tigers return to the Canalta Centre tonight to host Zach Fischer and the Spokane Chiefs (8-5-0-1) at 7 p.m.