Tigers drop first of two against the Swift Current Broncos, 5-1

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on March 19, 2022.

The Medicine Hat Tigers will have to wait until next season to win in Swift Current.

The Tigers fell 5-1 Friday night on the road against the Broncos after giving up three goals in the second period. Medicine Hat has dropped all four games in Swift this season with their only two wins against the Broncos coming in the Gas City.

The Tigers entered Friday night’s contest on a high after their 5-4 comeback shootout win over the Regina Pats Tuesday. After taking a 2-0 lead into the second period, the Tigers surrendered four straight to Regina to trail 4-2 at the start of the third. A goal from Brendan Lee, his second of the contest, in the final 4.9 of the third period sent the game to extras that Logan Barlage won in the shootout.

Gleb Ivanov drew back into the lineup Friday night in the first game of the Tigers home-and-home with the Broncos after serving a one-game suspension for an elbowing major in the Tabbies 2-0 win Mar. 19 against Swift Current.

The Broncos opened the scoring in their own rink when Josh Filmon picked up a stretch pass and carried the puck down the wing before firing a slap shot over the left shoulder of Tigers netminder Garin Bjorklund. Filmon’s 21st of the year came 10:25 into the game.

The Tigers had their chances in the period as the Broncos were on a parade to the penalty box, offering up power plays to the Tabbies. Medicine Hat did not convert any of their first frame man advantages as they led the period in shots 15-8 but trailed 1-0.

Swift Current opened the scoring for the second period with a power play marker 35 seconds into the frame from Raphael Pelletier. They added an insurance marker a little over five minutes later when Sam McGinley potted his fifth goal of the year. The Broncos looked to be taking over the game before the Tigers finally made use of a power play opportunity.

Andrew Basha took a pass at the Swift Current blue line from Teague Patton on the wing and split the Broncos defense before wiring the puck past netminder Reid Dyck to get the Tigers on the board. Oasiz Wiesblatt picked up the assist on Basha’s third of the season that came 3:38 after McGinley’s goal.

The game seemed destined to hit intermission at 3-1 before the Broncos had a three-on-one breakaway and Josh Davies sent a cross-ice pass to McGinley who scored with 1:52 left in the period to put his team ahead 4-1 after 40. The Broncos led the frame in shots 13-6.

Medicine Hat controlled the pace early in the third and almost drew within two. Basha picked up a Broncos turnover and was alone in front with Patton who was turned aside by Dyck.

Bjorklund was busy in the third due to multiple turnovers in the Tigers end that led to shots the Grand Prairie product dispatched.

Broncos’ Owen Pickering kept the puck in the Tigers zone before sending a pass to Karson King that ended up on Connor Hvidston’s stick before finding the back of the net. Hvidston’s 12th goal in the green and blue came with 5:36 left in the game as the Broncos just added onto their lead.

Medicine Hat ended the game ahead in shots 30-28 but could not find the back of the net as often as the Broncos who held on for the 5-1 win.

Bjorklund made 25 saves in his 42nd appearance of the season in the orange and black. Down the ice, Dyck turned aside 30 of the 31 Tiger shots he faced for his sixth win on the year. Friday night’s victory gives Swift Current their 22nd win, keeping them in the race for the final Eastern Conference wild card spot with 51 points.

Medicine Hat’s record falls to 11-42-3-1. They remain at the bottom of the WHL standings.

The Tigers final game this season against the Broncos goes Saturday night at Co-op Place. Swift Current leads the season series 4-2-0-0. Puck drop Saturday is set for 7 p.m.

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