Cubs close out November with comeback victory over Lightning

By Ryan McCracken on November 26, 2018.

rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com @MHNMcCracken

The Medicine Hat Travelodge Cubs closed out November on a high with a gritty 3-2 victory over the Stettler Lightning on Saturday night at the Kinplex.

Cooper Hilworth and Tavin Straub scored to erase a late 2-1 deficit and snap a three-game slide after a tough 9-4 road loss to the Heritage Junior Hockey League-best Airdrie Techmation Thunder Friday.

“This is a big win, a big confidence booster after that loss Friday and losing those three straight,” said Hilworth. “To come back and win a big one, it boosts the confidence, gets the boys going and keeps them going for the next few games.”

Hilworth erased the narrow deficit with a shorthanded goal six minutes into the third period, then Straub took over the lead three minutes later and goaltender Brett Vanderveer held the door for the rest of regulation to secure the victory and improve to 7-10-2 on the season.

“That shorthanded goal really pumped the guys up and got the guys going,” said Hilworth. “It was a good defensive hold for the last four minutes to keep the lead. Everybody played well, especially the penalty kill, because we spent a good amount of time in the penalty box.”

Tavin Stadnicki opened the scoring on a power play goal from Chandler Aleman in the first, but the Lightning responded a pair of power play goals from Brenden Tucker and Ethan Rost.

“We couldn’t stay out of the box. It was kind of taking the flow out of the game and we’re a better team,” said Gaetan. “It was nice that they focused, regrouped a little bit in the third period and got it done.”

Lightning goaltender Indiana Kelly settled for a 27-save loss, dropping Stettler to 10-8-0. Vanderveer stopped 39 in the win.

“He’s been playing really great lately,” Gaetan said of Vanderveer. “He’s keeping us in games, so I’m really happy with the way he’s played in the last couple weeks.”

Hilworth did all he could to steer the Cubs into the win column Friday, but came up empty-handed in a lopsided loss to the Northern Division-leading Thunder.

“He’s just an energizer for us. Any two players you put with him, he seems to get that line going,” Gaetan said of Hilworth. “He’s jus bringing a lot of energy and he’s putting the puck in the net too, which always helps.”

Hilworth scored twice while Mackenzie Fritzler and Chandler Aleman added individual markers to keep the Cubs in the running, though Airdrie’s offence proved too much thanks to a five-point effort from Rylan Plante-Crough and four more out of Jordan McConnell.

Thunder goaltender Ryan Simpson stopped 31 in the victory. Vanderveer stopped 37 for Medicine Hat in the loss.

The Cubs return to the ice Saturday in Three Hills against the 1-18-0 Thrashers.

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