NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers goaltender Carter Casey makes a glove saves in the first period of his 16-save shutout Tuesday in a 6-0 win over the Regina Pats at Co-op Place.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com
The Medicine Hat Tigers kicked off the penultimate week of the regular season in shutout fashion.
Carter Casey turned aside all 16 shots he faced for his second career shutout as the Tigers blanked the Regina Pats 6-0 Tuesday night at Co-op Place. With the win, the Tigers reach the 100-point plateau as a team for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
“It feels good to get the shutout and obviously get the win is ultimately the most important thing especially right now to pick up the two points and keep moving forward,” Casey said. “It was a good effort, we kept everything down for them, we kept the chances down, kept the shots down, kept the penalties down. So overall, it’s a great team win.”
It’s the third time this season the Tigers have only surrendered 16 shots in a game, the first time either Casey or Jordan Switzer has worked a shutout in those games. Head coach Willie Desjardins liked the efforts from the Grand Rapids, Minn. product.
“He was good, made a couple big saves in the first period, made a big one right at the end, so it was great to see,’ Desjardins said. “He’s played well lately, he’s been aggressive and it’s great for him to get it.”
Five Tigers recorded multi-point nights, led by Markus Ruck’s four-assist performance. Younger twin brother Liam had two goals and an assist, Carter Cunningham scored twice and both Tyson Moss and Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll had a pair of assists. Markus’ four-point effort puts him first in the WHL with 98, Liam sits one point back at 97.
“(Noah) Davidson’s line was good early, Markus had four assists, Liam and two and one, a nice goal by Davidson, Cunny got a couple in the third so it was a good game. I thought the boys did a pretty good job with their composure late, we have to be smart.”
The Tigers opened the scoring early in the contest.
Jonas Woo had the puck at the point in the Regina end, skating in on net before he stopped up, spun and threw it on net to beat Regina starter Taylor Tabashniuk 19 seconds into the game. Liam and Markus Ruck had the assists on Woo’s 27th, the goal putting the Tigers blue liner 82 points on the season to tie Cliff Lane for the franchise single season record for points by a defenceman set in 1975-76.
“It’s pretty special, obviously I want to beat it, but I couldn’t do without the teammates,” Woo said. “All these players are pretty special and it’s not over, so I’m looking to get a few more. But this team’s helped me a lot and I couldn’t do without them.”
The Tigers made it 2-0 after 20 minutes as the Rucks combined for a goal.
Liam carried the puck up ice, dishing back to Markus inside the Regina end as he cut to the slot. The elder twin carried the puck to the net, passing cross-crease to Liam for the tap in goal.
The Tigers added a pair in the second period with Liam recording his second of the night. Tyson Moss stopped the puck in the neutral zone and fed it up to Markus who carried play into the Regina end. He passed to Liam in the slot and he fired home his 41st of the season.
Davidson worked a solo effort later in the frame, carrying the puck up through the Regina end, circling at the point before he skated down low and scored on a backhand shot fro his 29th of the season. Markus Ruck had the lone assist as they led 4-0 after 40 minutes.
Cunningham’s two goals came within 3:34 of action. The first coming off the stick of Moss, he threw the puck on net where Cunningham battled for position as the puck hit his back skate and into the net. Gordon-Carroll had the second assist.
The 20-year-old forward’s second of the night and ninth of the season came off a cross-crease pass from Kade Stengrim. Gordon-Carroll, picking up the second assist, started the play with a solo effort of dekes, firing a shot on net that rebounded to Stengrim for the pass to Cunningham.
Medicine Hat outshot the Pats 43-16 in the win, neither team scored on either of their two power plays. If the season ended today, the two teams would meet in the first round of the WHL playoffs. Tuesday’s win sweeps the season series for the Tigers.
“We knew going into it that we might play these guys in the playoffs, Casey was on his head today that’s for sure,” Markus Ruck said. “He was unreal back there, have to give him a shout out. Our whole team is great. It’s good to see, Carter get a couple too, just happy for the boys.”
The Tigers (46-10-5-3) head to Lethbridge on Friday to face the Hurricanes before hosting them Saturday at Co-op Place.
