Tigers downed by Oil Kings

By Medicine Hat News on October 26, 2019.

The Medicine Hat Tigers dropped back-to-back games for the first time this season following a 4-2 loss to the Edmonton Oil Kings on Friday night at Rogers Place.

In the first meeting between the teams since Edmonton ousted Medicine Hat in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference quarter-final last season, it was former Tabby Josh Williams who stole the limelight with a three-assist performance.

Medicine Hat looked poised to take an early lead when Edmonton’s Matthew Robertson was nabbed for interference midway through the first period, but Riley Sawchuk took advantage shorthanded and beat Mads Søgaard to give the Oil Kings a narrow edge at the break.

Oil Kings winger Ethan McIndoe added some insurance 40 seconds into the middle frame – with Williams picking up his second assist of the night on the tally – but Medicine Hat quickly battled back into the conversation.

Just 31 seconds after McIndoe’s marker, Brett Kemp finished off a play started by Cole Sillinger and Ryan Chyzowski to cut the deficit back down to one.

Williams kept up his playmaking prowess in the final minute of the second period when he found Carter Souch for a power play goal to re-establish Edmonton’s two-goal cushion after 40.

Daniel Baker brought the Tigers back within a goal with his fifth of the year midway through the third period, but Sawchuk struck for his second of the night to push the game out of reach with four minutes left in regulation.

Søgaard settled for the 35-save loss, dropping Medicine Hat to 8-4-1-0 on the year.

Todd Scott stopped 42 shots to secure the win and push Edmonton to 9-1-3-0.

The Tigers return to the ice for a 7 p.m. puck drop Saturday in Lethbridge against the Hurricanes.