Tigers fall 5-4 to Regina in OT Saturday
By James Tubb on January 20, 2024.
The Medicine Hat Tigers experienced Regina with an overtime loss Saturday.
The Tigers led early but could not hold on as they dropped a back and forth affair, falling 5-4 in overtime to the Pats.
Medicine Hat came into the contest off a 3-1 loss Friday at Co-op Place to the Red Deer Rebels.
The Tigers opened the scoring with the only goal of the first period. Shane Smith took a pass from Andrew Basha on the boards and wired home the puck for the 1-0 lead 10:35 into the game. Dru Krebs had the second assist on Smith’s 22nd.
Medicine Hat continued the offence into the second. After setting one up in the first, Basha found twine himself in the second to make it 2-0. Josh Van Mulligen and Oasiz Wiesblatt had the assists on Basha’s 19th 5:12 into the second.
Regina answered back with a controversial goal. Logan Peskett knocked at a puck that Zach Zahara appeared to keep off the goal line. It was ruled a goal on the play and after a review, remained a goal to make it 2-1 at the 8:54 mark. The Pats tied it up at 2-2 just under six minutes later with a seeing eye shot from Tyson Buczkowksi.
Just 43 seconds later the Tigers regained the lead on Tomas Mrsic’s 11th goal of the season. Jack Kachkowksi and Andrew Basha had the assists, the first WHL point for Kachkowski.
Medicine Hat outshot Regina 25-15 through 40 minutes.
The Pats tied it up again early in the second. Tye Spencer scored 31 seconds into the frame to make it a 3-3 game. Again, Medicine Hat answered back.
Hunter St. Martin scored 15 seconds after Regina tied it up to give Medicine Hat their third lead on the night. Basha had the lone assist, wrapping up a four-point night for the Calgary product.
Regina ties it up yet again. Braxton Whitehead knocked in a puck at the 11:19 mark to make it a 4-4 game that held until the final buzzer. Medicine Hat continued to lead the shooting category, leading the Pats 42-18 after regulation.
With just 34 seconds left in overtime, the Pats struck and capitalized on an ill-timed partial line change and scored on a mini breakaway to win in the extra frame.
Zahara made 17 saves in the loss, his 15th appearance of the season. Across the ice from him, Ewan Huet made 40 saves.
Medicine Hat went scoreless on their three power plays and held the Pats at bay on their four man advantages.
The Tigers (27-14-3) wrap up a three-in-three weekend as they head to Brandon to face the Wheat Kings.
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