Tigers look to bounce back with busy week

By JAMES TUBB on February 15, 2022.

The Medicine Hat Tigers don’t have long to dwell on the weekend’s loss.

Saturday night the Tigers had a 3-1 lead over the Central Division-leading Edmonton Oil Kings halfway through the game before they allowed four unanswered goals and fell 5-3.

The loss serves as Medicine Hat’s 29th of the campaign, putting their record at 9-29-3-1. Tigers associate coach Joe Frazer said after Saturday’s loss that the Tigers won’t become a great team like the Oil Kings if they don’t give a full game effort.

“When you watch them, they have a ton of skill but they keep it pretty simple,” Frazer said. “They’re pucks in, they battle, it’s a really good team. It’s great for our guys to see and measure themselves up against.”

The Tigers will be able to quickly rebound from the loss with four games in a span of six days. They take on the Brandon Wheat Kings Wednesday night at home, then hit the road for Swift Current on Friday to take on the Broncos before welcoming a familiar foe Saturday at Co-op Place. The Lethbridge Hurricanes and Corson Hopwo visit the Gas City for the former Tiger’s first game against the team that drafted him.

The Tabbies have Sunday off before hosting the Prince Albert Raiders Monday for a Family Day matinee.

Tigers defenceman Dru Krebs, who scored two goals in Saturday’s loss for the first multi-goal game of his WHL career, said the defeat gives them a little more confidence coming against a team like Edmonton.

“Having a closer game, it makes you feel like if we play like that against more teams than we’ll win more games,” Krebs said. “I think that’s what you pull away from this game.”

Netminder Beckett Langkow made 30 saves Saturday night in his first back-to-back start in the WHL, and said it left them with plenty to work on in practice this week.

“Just forget about the loss and work hard in practice Monday and Tuesday,” Langkow said. “If I play Wednesday, Friday or Saturday, whenever it is, just make sure I am ready to go and make sure practice prepares me for those games.”

This part of the schedule is tied for the longest stretch of games for the Tigers this season, and they’ll aim to use it to snap a three-game losing skid.

Medicine Hat has had success against their next four opponents, defeating three out of the four at various points this season. They’re still looking for their first win against their Highway 3 rival, the Hurricanes.

Before they can look to get that first win against Lethbridge and spoil Hopwo’s return to Medicine Hat, the Tigers have a dance with the Wheat Kings.

Wednesday’s game against Brandon gets underway in Co-op Place at 7 p.m.

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