NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Lukas Svejkovsky shoots the puck on net during a Medicine Hat Tigers power play in the first period of Tuesday's Western Hockey League game against the Swift Current Broncos.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com
The third time is the charm for the Medicine Hat Tigers, who beat the Swift Current 5-4 in overtime Tuesday night for their first win in three matchups against the Broncos.
Lukas Svejkovsky scored just over two minutes into overtime to secure the late comeback victory and push Medicine Hat to 3-3-0-1 on the Western Hockey League season.
Associate coach Joe Frazer said it was a gutsy effort by the Tigers in the win and he was happy with the special teams throughout.
“The guys have put a lot of time in and obviously a lot of video time, a lot of practice time, we mixed a few things up and it was great to get a few goals,” Frazer said. “The penalty kill was outstanding again, special teams came up huge tonight.”
Svejkovsky said it’s a lot of fun getting the final goal of the game as tonight’s OT winner was the second time he’s ended the game for the Tigers.
The Broncos scored first on a goal from Mathew Ward. With less than three minutes left in the frame and the Tigers on a two man advantage, Owen MacNeil struck for his first of the season to tie it up at the end of 20 minutes.
Bogdans Hodass capitalized on a Broncos penalty early in the second to put the Tigers up 2-1.
The lead wouldn’t last long, as Swift Current’s Brady Birnie knocked in a loose puck to even the game up with 12:40 left in the second frame.
There was no love lost in the second, as Tigers Carlin Dezainde and Swift Current’s Chase Lacombe dropped the mitts a little over halfway through the frame. Seconds after the fisticuffs, Connor Hvidston snuck a shot through Garin Bjorklund off the rush to put the Broncos up 3-2.
Hopwo capitalized on a Tigers power play minutes later to even the game up at 3-3. The goal, assisted by Svejkovsky and Hodass, was Hopwo’s first of the year. Svejkovsky says he was excited to see his line mate and fellow over ager get his first.
“I knew it was coming. He’s a guy that cares about the game and how he plays a lot,” Svejkovsky said. “I was just trying to tell him to not get too frustrated. He’s a great player, he’s got a great shot so I knew it was going to come. Right when I found the pass there and put it on his stick, I knew that one was finding a way to the back of the net. Pumped for him, all of the boys were excited. I know he’s going to keep getting more here.”
The Broncos re-established their lead on a Rylan Gould marker to put them up 4-3 near the end of the second frame. But almost halfway into the third period, Teague Patton scored his first of the season to force overtime.
Svejkovsky capitalized on a misstep by the Broncos and scored the overtime winner for the Tigers, with 2:43 left in the extra frame.
Both Svejkovsky and Hodass had a goal and three assists each as the Tigers seemed to get on a roll whenever their lines were paired. Frazer said it was nice to see guys like MacNeil, Patton and Hopwo get their first goals of the year and they were happy once again with Svejkovsky’s line in the win.
“It was great to see some different guys scoring,” Frazer said. “Obviously Lukas’ line are the guys we lean on lots and they came through again.”
Bjorklund, in his fifth start of the season for Medicine Hat, stopped 26 shots for the win. Swift net minder Reid Dyck stopped 30 shots in the loss, dropping the Broncos to 2-4-2-0 on the year.
Broncos interim head coach Devan Praught said he liked his teams effort in the loss but said he wants to see some maturation from the young Broncos when they have a lead or the game gets chippy.
“The immaturities of our team play, having a lead in the third period and throwing pucks in the middle, we just have to tighten that stuff up,” Praught said. “We’ve touched the oven, it’s burned us a couple of times and I’m hoping we don’t reach back and touch it again.”
Praught says he is having the time of his life behind the Broncos bench since taking over the position on the interim, on October 14.
The Tigers next action is Friday when they host the Prince Albert Raiders at Co-op Place. Svejkovsky says he is excited to face the Raiders again after getting shutout by them 4-0 last Friday.
“We’re going to be in our barn this time, in front of our fans, so the boys are excited for that one and hopefully we can get them back,” Svejkovsky said.
Puck drops at 7 p.m.
