Top-ranked Raiders stymie Tigers in P.A.

By Sean Rooney on November 15, 2018.

srooney@medicinehatnews.com @MHNRooney

It’s not that the Medicine Hat Tigers played badly, it’s just that they don’t have much to show for it.

Up against the Canadian Hockey League’s top-ranked team Wednesday, the Tigers fell 2-0 in Prince Albert.

Medicine Hat is now winless in four straight including the first half of a four-game trip through the East Division. They’ve lost six of their last seven, garnering two points via shootout or overtime.

“I think we played a very good game,” said goalie Mads Søgaard, who had a big night with 31 saves. “We’ve got to respect that we played a very good team as well, there’s a reason they’re at where they are.”

Raiders goalie Ian Scott stopped all 43 shots the Tigers fired his way, while Brett Leason scored a shorthanded marker and Noah Gregor the other for the 17-1 home side.

Søgaard said Leason’s one of the fastest players in the league and beat him on a breakaway in the second period.

“He has a great shot, just buried it over my shoulder,” said the Danish netminder.

The Tigers, 9-10-1-2 overall, are now 0-3 against the Raiders this season and have only one more opportunity to knock them off. That’ll come next Friday, Nov. 23 at Canalta Centre, and will be their first home game in nearly two weeks.

Being on the road presents a unique set of challenges for the players, who now head on the bus to Brandon for a game Friday and Swift Current Saturday before returning home.

Søgaard, 18, doesn’t have the homework many of the young rookies have to contend with, and says keeping the mood light is important.

“We’re doing well, having fun,” he said. “You’re not used to the routine so you’ve got to adjust as much as you can, but at this level we all should be able to adjust.”

On the ice, finding positives to build on is key when the wins aren’t coming easily. The Tigers were arguably a bounce away from a much different result Wednesday.

“I think we played really good for 60 minutes today,” said Søgaard. “We had a hard time playing with the lead and today we just went after it for 60 minutes but unfortunately came up short.”

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