Tigers officially book playoff series date with Brandon
By Ryan McCracken on March 17, 2018.
rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com @MHNMcCracken The Medicine Hat Tigers brought some meaning to Saturday’s regular season finale with a 4-2 victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Friday at the Enmax Centre. Ryan Chyzowski scored with just over two minutes left in regulation to lead the Tigers out of a two-game skid and knot up their season series with the Hurricanes at 3-3-0-0 entering Saturday’s Highway 3 rivalry game at the Canalta Centre. “Lethbridge might be a team we play in the second round if things go well for us in the first,” said Tigers defenceman David Quenneville, who recorded his 80th point of the year in the win. “At the same time I think we’re still trying to build our habits and get better every day going into the first round next weekend.” The Tigers will officially face the Brandon Wheat Kings in the first round of the post-season following a 3-2 Regina Pats overtime victory over the Swift Current Broncos. Medicine Hat swept the Wheat Kings to open the playoffs last season, but Brandon took this year’s season series 3-0-1-0. All four games went to overtime. “I don’t think we were too concerned about who we were going to play in the first round, but we’ve played Brandon really well this season,” said Quenneville. “Obviously we had some tough overtime losses, but Brandon is going to be some great competition and we’re excited.” Tigers goaltender Michael Bullion was busy off the hop Friday, stopping 14 shots and killing three penalties through the first period to keep his team in a scoreless contest. While Jake Elmer appeared to break the early stalemate when he chipped a puck over Bullion at the end of a goalmouth scramble late in the first, a lengthy video review overturned the call on the ice due to goaltender interference — a questionable ruling echoing the goaltender interference debate currently plaguing the NHL. Lethbridge shook off the call and resumed control of the game to start the second period. After generating some sustained pressure in the Tigers end, Hurricanes blueliner Calen Addison stepped into a point shot and ripped the puck past Bullion to give Lethbridge a narrow lead — and this time it counted. Tigers rookie Josh Williams drew even on an odd goal a few minutes later. After David Quenneville stepped into a slapshot at the top of the circle, the puck took a bounce off a Hurricanes defender then deflected off Williams and into the net. See Rassell, PageA10 “Having young guys step up this time of year is something that’s important,” said Quenneville. “We’re going to need it going forward into the playoffs.” Bryan Lockner pushed Medicine Hat out in front just 16 seconds into the third period. The 17-year-old winger rushed into the zone off the opening draw and finished off a cross-ice feed from Williams to give the Tabbies their first lead of the evening with his 14th goal of the year. The Hurricanes pressured for an equalizer and Jordy Bellerive broke through with eight minutes left in regulation thanks to a juicy rebound off Bullion’s pad — but Chyzowski stole back the lead on a cross-crease pass from Tyler Preziuso six minutes later, then Preziuso put away the game with an empty-netter. Bullion locked up the 28-save victory to push Medicine Hat to 36-27-8-0. Hurricanes goaltender Logan Flodell stopped 35, dropping Lethbridge to 32-33-6-0 with their eighth consecutive loss. Despite the setback, Lethbridge still locked up home ice advantage in their opening round playoff matchup against the Rebels with Red Deer’s 6-2 loss to the Kootenay Ice. Tigers captain Mark Rassell was absent from Friday’s game, snapping his ironman streak at 208 consecutive games played. Rassell has been nursing a couple injuries over the past few weeks. Tigers defenceman Linus Nassen was also a scratch due to illness. The Tigers and Hurricanes head to the Canalta Centre to close out the regular season on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. 18
-17
