The last time the Medicine Hat Tigers put up more than 10 goals in a road game, Willie Desjardins was the coach.
With Desjardins a few months into his second stint with the club, the Tigers shelled the Saskatoon Blades to the tune of an 11-3 win Tuesday.
It was the team’s biggest output away from the Gas City since a 12-5 win in Kamloops way back on Oct. 12, 2009.
Leading the way this time was Cyle McNabb, traded from the Blades two weeks ago and returning to SaskTel Centre for the first time since. The 19-year-old had a hat trick and added an assist, doubling his goal total for the season before the second intermission.
Fellow newcomer Lukas Svejkovsky added two goals in his second game since being acquired from Vancouver.
Captain James Hamblin registered five assists, Cole Sillinger three, while Bryan Lockner had two goals in a game that was 5-0 through 20 minutes.
That quick start spelled an early goaltending change, with Nolan Maier replaced by rookie Koen MacInnes – who didn’t fare much better. Chase Wouters eventually got two goals past Tigers netminder Garin Bjorklund, who made 20 saves before ceding way to fellow first-year Evan Fradette, who made two saves in his first WHL game. Jayden Wiens had the other Blades goal.
Elijah Brown had a goal and two assists while Daniel Baker, Brett Kemp and Ryan Chyzowski each had a goal and an assist for the Tigers, the only team in the WHL averaging better than four goals a game.
Shots were 38-25 in Medicine Hat’s favour. The Tigers power play went 3-for-4 while the Blades were 2-for-5.
Now 21-8-1-0, the Tigers are within two points of league-leading Edmonton with two games in hand. Saskatoon fell to 14-14-1-2.
Medicine Hat heads to Prince Albert tonight to meet the 19-6-3-1 Raiders. They’re in Red Deer Friday before hosting Edmonton Saturday – their last game before a 13-day holiday break.
