Winning streak snapped

By Ryan McCracken on January 28, 2019.

rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com @MHNMcCracken

The Medicine Hat Tigers watched a four-game winning streak grind to a screeching halt on Saturday night at the Canalta Centre.

Moose Jaw Warriors forwards Justin Almeida and Brayden Tracey traded tallies while goaltender Brodan Salmond stopped 26 shots to send the Tabbies back into the loss column in a narrow 3-1 setback — their first regulation loss since Jan. 5.

“We weren’t battling. We weren’t working quite as hard as we needed to. It was like the game was coming at us,” said Tigers head coach Shaun Clouston. “As the game went on we were able to slow down their momentum and fight for some of it back, and by the end of the game we had the momentum. It’s just one team was a little bit more ready.”

Moose Jaw took over the early flow of momentum when Tracey found Almeida standing on the doorstep for a tap-in goal eight minutes into the first.

Hat goaltender Jordan Hollett settled into his crease and kept the Tigers within striking distance with 12 saves in the period, then sprawled out to stop Tracey on an odd-man rush early in the second, but the Warriors continued to chip away and eventually padded their lead on a power play in the middle frame.

“We didn’t manage the puck the way we needed to early,” said Clouston. “We had five neutral zone turnovers in the first period and they were all right leading up to the goal. I thought there was a response after the goal. We got the puck in and started managing it better.”

In a reversal of roles from the first, Almeida found Tracey waiting in the slot with Daniel Baker in the bin for hooking. Tracey picked up the pass off his skate then slotted the puck through Hollett to leave the Tigers staring down a 2-0 deficit after 40 minutes.

“Me and (Almeida) were clicking tonight,” said Tracey. “Medicine Hat is obviously a good team. We knew that coming in. We knew what we had to do.”

Tabby winger Baxter Anderson cut the deficit in half on a point shot through traffic early in the third — his second goal in as many nights.

“Whatever way I can help the team succeed is what I want to do so it feels good,” said Anderson. “I think it adds a little bit of confidence when you find the back of the net but I’m just trying to keep it simple and make plays.”

While the timely tally shifted momentum back in Medicine Hat’s favour for the remainder of regulation, the Tigers were unable to find an equalizer and Almeida put the game away with an empty-netter in the final minute.

Hollett stopped 25 shots in the loss, leaving Medicine Hat at 27-17-2-2 on the season.

Moose Jaw improved to 27-11-6-2 with the victory, their third straight.

“We’re rolling,” said Tracey. “We’re working hard. That’s the type of team we are. We have a big heart and we like to play that way.”

The Tigers return to the Canalta Centre for the ATB Financial Skills Competition on Tuesday at 7 p.m. before heading to Moose Jaw for a rematch with the Warriors on Friday at 6 p.m.

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