Tigers comeback for shootout win Friday

By James Tubb on November 25, 2022.

The Medicine Hat Tigers opened their busy weekend in exciting fashion.

The Tigers comeback late and beat the Red Deer Rebels 3-2 in the shootout on the road Friday night. The victory, their first in overtime or the shootout this season, marks their second win in a row after they beat the Edmonton Oil Kings 6-1 on Wednesday. Friday’s win starts their three game, three day weekend off with two points.

Red Deer opened the scoring 6:03 into the contest, with a power play goal from Talon Brigley. Jace Weir and Craig Armstrong had the assists on Brigley’s third goal of the season.

Medicine Hat pushed back in the first and on their first man advantage of the game, got on the board. Only seven seconds after Rebels forward Ollie Josephson was sent to the box for tripping, Tyler MacKenzie got the final touch on a Brendan Lee shot from above the circles to even the game up at 1-1. Andrew Basha had the second assist on MacKenzie’s ninth goal of the season.

Neither team found the back of the net for the rest of the first period, with the Tigers outshooting Red Deer 13-7 in the frame.

The Rebels struck first while short handed when Kai Uchacz stole a puck in the neutral zone and wired it top shelf back Tiger net minder Beckett Langkow. Medicine Hat had the momentum for the rest of the second period but could not get the puck past Kyle Kelsey, who made 40 saves on the night.

It took until the late stages of the third period but the Tigers evened the game up with a goal from their hottest scorer. With 4:21 left in the game, Lee scored his team leading 14th goal of the season to tie the game up. Basha had the assist for his second point of the night.

Only seconds after Medicine Hat tied it up, Rebels forward Dwayne Jean Jr. was awarded a penalty shot after being hooked on a break. Langkow, who made 29 saves in his eighth win of the year, turned aside the shot and kept the game tied.

Both teams picked up a point as the game went to extra time where they each had three shots a side but could not score to force the shootout.

It was the Tigers leading offensive trio of Lee, Basha and Oasiz Wiesblatt, who took their shootout opportunities and scored on each one. Uchacz was the Rebels second shooter and he found the back of the net, allowing Wiesblatt to be the hero with his goal.

The Tigers (8-10-4-1) are back in action Saturday for the second of three straight games, as they host the Calgary Hitmen for a 7 p.m. game at Co-op Place. Sunday afternoon they’ll welcome the Prince Albert Raiders for a 4 p.m. contest.

12
-11