By medicinehatnews on March 14, 2015.
The Medicine Hat Tigers hung onto control of top spot in the Western Hockey League’s Central Division with a 6-3 win over the Edmonton Oil Kings Saturday at The Arena. Tigers leading point-scorer Trevor Cox lifted Medicine Hat to an early lead on a five-on-three power play with a shot over the shoulder of Oil Kings netminder Tristen Jarry. Edmonton allowed Medicine Hat five opportunities on the power play in the opening frame, but a 16-save period from Jarry kept the Oil Kings in the contest after 20 minutes, despite being outshot 17-3. The Oil Kings found their game in the second period, out-shooting Medicine Hat 16-10 in the frame and finding the goal twice from Ben Carroll and Tyler Robertson, but the Tigers retained the lead a pair of goals from Steven Owre and Dryden Hunt. Oil Kings centre Andrew Koep knotted things back up early in the third period, but the Tigers rallied to victory on a power play tip-in from Matthew Bradley, a breakaway goal from Medicine Hat native Blake Penner and Cole Sanford’s team-leading 49th goal of the season. Tigers goaltender Marek Langhamer picked up his 27th victory of the season with 32 saves, while Jarry recorded 34 stops in the loss. The Calgary Hitmen picked up a 4-2 victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes Saturday to stay tied with the Tigers at 87 points on the season, but Medicine Hat holds the division lead with 42 wins to Calgary’s 41. Both teams have four games remaining in the regular season. The Tigers get right back to it Sunday at The Arena against the Prince Albert Raiders. The puck drops at 6 p.m. 9