Cubs win in Coaldale, lead series 2-0

By James Tubb on February 19, 2022.

The Medicine Hat Cubs are halfway out of the second round.

Medicine Hat beat the Copperheads 4-2 Saturday night in Coaldale to nab a 2-0 series lead in their second round matchup.

Cooper Hilworth led the way offensively with two goals and an assist as Dawsen Savage picked up the win in net for Medicine Hat turning aside 22 of the 24 shots he faced.

The Cubs took game one Thursday night by a score of 6-2 after getting a first round bye as a result of finishing the HJHL regular season with a record of 25-8-3.

For the second straight time in the series, Medicine Hat opened the scoring.

Hilworth got the Cubs on the board with an unassisted goal in the last 2:58 of the first period. Hilworth’s goal, his first of the series and game, was the only offence in the first frame as the Cubs outshot Coaldale 10-6.

Medicine Hat started the second period off the same way they did the first, as Colby Friedrich found the back of the net 1:37 into the period. Hilworth had the lone assist on Friedrich’s marker.

The Copperheads answered back three minutes later to cut the Cubs lead in half as Medicine Hat outshot Coaldale 13-7 in the second and carried the one goal lead into the third.

In a race against only himself, Friedrich opened the scoring 33 seconds into the third to re-establish the Cubs two goal lead. Jacob Milne picked up the lone assist on Friedrich’s second goal of the game and third of the series.

Hilworth scored his second of the game seven minutes later to give the Cubs some much needed insurance on the road. Gerret Harty and defenceman Jamal Shaw had the helpers on Hilworth’s goal.

Coaldale scored with 8:46 left in the game to make it interesting but could not fully complete the comeback in their own building as the Cubs held on for the 4-2 win.

After being outshot in the first game of the series, the Cubs fired 37 shots on net to the Copperheads 24 as they picked up the 2-0 series lead.

The series returns to Medicine Hat Sunday night as the Cubs have the chance to take a commanding 3-0 series lead at the Kinplex. That contest gets underway at 8 p.m.

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