NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicne Hat Tigers netminder Evan May slides to his right to make a save in the first period of their 3-2 loss to the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Saturday night at Co-op Place.
The Medicine Hat Tigers made it interesting late but could not get over the hump Saturday night.
They trailed Lethbridge 2-0 after 40 minutes but could not make a complete comeback as they fell 3-2 against the Hurricanes at Co-op Place. Medicine Hat entered the game on the heels of a 5-1 loss to the Calgary Hitmen on the road Friday night.
Head coach Willie Desjardins thought his team could have been better Saturday night.
“We played good at the end of the first, we kind of got into trouble in the second and we gave up some tough ones,” Desjardins said. “The first goal, they missed the net and got a rebound and it goes, the second was a face-off and get a screen and the third, we have a couple of great chances on the power play and a guy gets out of the box.”
“It wasn’t that we gave up an awful lot but in saying that, we’ve talked about it, we really do need to find ways to win these games.”
The defeat against their Highway 3 rival marks five losses in a row for the Tigers as their record sits at 4-8-3. Across the ice, Hurricanes head coach Brent Kisio said there were moments where either team was good and was glad to see his team pick up a win in a close game.
“We’ve played a lot of games this year where we felt we should have won and we’ve been very, very dominant,” Kisio said. “Today was a little bit of a closer game where you could have probably gone either way. But on the road, you’ll take these ones.”
It was the Hurricanes who jumped on the board first with Jett Jones’ eighth goal of the season coming 11:20 into the contest. They added to their lead 6:59 into the second period with a seeing eye shot from Logan Wormald at the point for his fifth goal of the campaign. Through 40 minutes the Hurricanes led 2-0 on the scoreboard and in the shots category, outshooting the Tigers 23-17.
Medicine Hat gained momentum early in the third when Andrew Basha knocked in a cross crease from Oasiz Wiesblatt five second into the frame. Owen MacNeil had the third assist on Basha’s fifth goal of the season which brought the 2,308 Tigers faithful in attendance to their feet. The Tigers captain says they need to play for a full 60 minutes and focus on getting better.
“It’s tough losing to our rivals and when we get a late push like that it gives us some belief and when it gets taken away it’s quite frustrating but I think we’re right there,” MacNeil said. “With that being said, it’s not good enough and we have to find ways to win and just those winning habits and we’ve got to get out of this right now.”
The Tigers had a power play a little under six minutes after Basha’s goal and had multiple opportunities with the man advantage. Once the Lethbridge penalty was over, Tyson Zimmer picked up a puck and scored his second of the year on a breakaway to re-establish the Hurricanes two goal lead.
Medicine Hat pushed with 2:35 left in the game when Dallon Melin tapped in a pass from Brayden Boehm behind the net for his fourth goal of the season but that was all they could muster. The Tigers had chances with the goalie pulled but could not find the back of the net for the tie.
Melin said he’s been lucky to get a couple of late goals this season and says they just need to put their heads down and work through their tough stretch.
“Every team goes through things like this. A lot of times we’re beating ourselves and we’re not playing the right way,” Melin said. “I’m a true believer in the hockey gods and they don’t make it easy on you. These are the times where you really have to have a gut check, every guy in there and you know, you got to take a look in the mirror, every guy.”
“I think we’re going to do that, I’m still positive with this group. We do a lot of good things out there, it’s just a couple of lapses in the game but I think we’re going to get it right.”
Evan May made his third start in net for the Tigers and had 28 saves. Desjardins said the net minder and forward Hunter St. Martin’s games both positively stood out to him Saturday. He also praised the penalty kill, who went a perfect 7/7. The Tigers power play was not able to cash in on any of their four chances.
Across the ice from May, Jared Picklyk made 24 saves in the win as the Hurricanes record sits at 8-8-0-1. Kisio said his team will take Sunday off to regroup before gearing up for their game Wednesday against the Prince Albert Raiders.
The Tigers are back in action Tuesday when they host the Raiders for a 7 p.m. contest.
