NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Cubs defenseman Jamal Shaw gets checked while reaching for a puck in the first period of the Cubs 3-2 loss to the Okotoks Bisons in Game 3 of their South finals series.
The Medicine Hat Cubs led early but find themselves against the wall.
The Cubs dropped Game 3 of their South Finals series against the Okotoks Bisons 3-2 Saturday night, putting them down 3-0 in the seven game series.
Cubs head coach Randy Wong said the Cubs came out with a high tempo coming off their 8-0 loss in Okotoks Friday night and was happy with their early 2-0 lead but said they needed to sustain that pressure and they didn’t.
“I thought we had a good pace, we were playing to that and just needed to continue that,” Wong said. “We couldn’t sustain that high energy, 60 minutes and can’t get that next one to keep the confidence and energy level up. So that’s what happens, you get bogged down a little bit and they’re a good team. They keep coming at you and we needed to respond with a goal somewhere in the game and that just didn’t happen.”
The Cubs brought the packed crowd at the Kinplex to their feet early in the contest when Colby Friedrich found the back of the net 7:38 into the game. Jacob Milne had the lone assist on Friedrich’s fourth of the playoffs.
Cooper Hilworth added to the Cubs lead 2:46 later with his fourth goal of the postseason. Levi Schlosser and Ethan Machan assisted on the goal as the Cubs looked to take control of the game. It was their last offence of the game.
Okotoks drew themselves within one 1:31 later as the Cubs carried the 2-1 lead into the intermission after outshooting the Bisons 15-6 in the frame.
The Bisons had the only offence of the second period as they tied the game up at 2-2 10:38 into the frame. The shots in the second were tied at 12-12 as both teams traded chances up and down the ice.
Okotoks took the lead eight minutes into the third as they took the momentum of the game with 12 minutes remaining.
The Cubs had their chances to tie it up throughout the third period but either could not make the pass or missed the net completely. Medicine Hat also had five power play opportunities through the game that went uncapitalized.
Wong said his team was getting their chances but were trying to be too perfect.
“Guys that had good chances there I think there was a couple open net opportunities there and guys were just gripping the sticks too tight and they’ve been frustrated through the playoffs, we haven’t scored a whole lot of goals,” Wong said. “We have four goals in the three games so that’s just not enough to beat a team like Okotoks.”
The Cubs finished the third period being outshot by the Bisons 13-2 who held on for the 3-2 win and the commanding 3-0 series lead.
Game 4 comes Tuesday night back at the Kinplex as the Cubs look to stave off elimination. Wong said guys have to dig deep now more than ever.
“Your backs are against the wall big time and you have to see what kind of character you can bring for that Game 4 and see if we can take it back to Okotoks,” Wong said.
Game 4 gets underway Tuesday at 8:15 p.m.
