Tigers fall in overtime to Broncos Saturday night

By James Tubb on December 31, 2022.

The Medicine Hat Tigers fell just short in an overtime thriller Saturday night.

A third period comeback by the Tigers was overshadowed by the Swift Current Broncos winning 4-3 in the extra time. The Tigers entered the contest with a few days of rest and practice after losing 4-2 on Tuesday in Lethbridge against the Hurricanes.

Swift Current opened the scoring 10:25 into the first period with a goal from Sam McGinley, his seventh of the year. The Broncos add to their lead with 38 seconds left in the period with a power play goal from Josh Filmon.

Neither team got on the board in the second period as the Broncos were outshooting the Tigers 23-20 through 40 minutes of action.

Medicine Hat started the third period with momentum, as Brayden Boehm redirected a shot from Oasiz Wiesblatt on a power play 1:50 into the period to cut Swift Current’s lead in half. Dru Krebs had the second assist. Less than eight minutes later, Brendan Lee capitalized on a shorthanded breakaway chance for his 20th goal of the season and the 2-2 tie.

With 5:50 left in the period Owen MacNeil was the trailer on a Tomas Mrsic and Dallon Melin breakaway and it was the captain knocking in a loose puck for the Tigers lead. MacNeil with his sixth goal of the season, scoring in back-to-back games.

A mere 1:02 later, Swift Current tied the game with a goal from Brady Birnie, his sixth of the year forced overtime between the Central division rivals. With 1:39 left in the extra frame, Filmon scored his second of the game and 23rd of the year to hand the hometown Broncos the win.

Beckett Langkow turned aside 36 shots in his 30th start of the season for the Tigers. Across the ice from him, Reid Dyck made 28 saves.

The Tigers (13-18-5-1) are back in action Friday when they head to Edmonton to face the Oil Kings before welcoming the Broncos to the Hat on Saturday.

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