Tigers fall 3-1 Tuesday in Swift Current

By James Tubb on January 10, 2023.

The Medicine Hat Tigers are still looking for their first win of the season against the Swift Current Broncos.

The Tigers were in Swift Current on Tuesday and lost 3-1, for their second straight loss against their division rival. Swift Current beat the Tigers 6-4 on Saturday at Co-op Place. Medicine Hat was not active in Tuesday’s Western Hockey League trade deadline, while the Broncos made two moves on Monday.

The Broncos opened the scoring 1:31 into the contest with Josh Filmon’s 25th goal of the year. A little over halfway through the first frame they struck again with a power play goal from Braeden Lewis, his third of the season.

Swift Current pep the offence flowing into the second as Luke Mistelbacher found the back of the net 3:12 into the second period. That goal ended Beckett Langkow’s night in net for the Tigers, with 11 saves in 23:12 of action. Evan May took over and stopped all 20 shots he faced in the rest of the game.

The Tigers couldn’t find the back of the net in the second but finally got on the board 5:53 into the third period. Shane Smith knocked in a loose puck during a power play as the Tigers cut Swift Current’s lead to two and avoided being shutout for the first time this season. Oasiz Wiesblatt and Andrew Basha had the assists on Smith’s 12th of the season.

They continued pressure against the Broncos, outshooting them 18-9 in the third period and 38-34 in the game but could only manage one goal to lose 3-1. Joey Rocha was between the pipes for Swift Current and turned aside 37 of the Tigers shots.

The Tigers (14-20-5-1) are back in action Friday in Brandon against the Wheat Kings before facing the Winnipeg Ice on Saturday.