NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers net minder Beckett Langkow stretches out his right pad to make a save in the first period of a 4-3 overtime loss against the Swift Current Broncos at Co-op Place on Sunday.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
What could have been a strong weekend for the Medicine Hat Tigers came a part in the third period Sunday.
After beating the Calgary Hitmen 7-1 on Saturday, the Tigers were leading the Swift Current Broncos 3-1 entering the third period Sunday. But, two Broncos’ goals and an overtime winner from Josh Davies and Medicine Hat was left with just a point.
Assistant coach Josh Maser says they need to take advantage of their opportunities when they get them and stay with their game in contests like that.
“We were in a good spot heading into the third period,” Maser said. “We have to stick to and play our game when we’re ahead. We just have to stick to what got us to that spot in the first place.”
A win Sunday would have marked the fourth in a row for the Tigers, who ended their week of four games in six days with seven of a possible eight points. They are tied with the Brandon Wheat Kings for ninth in the Eastern conference with 43 points (18-21-6-1) but are in 10th due to Brandon having two games in hand and one more regulation win.
The Tigers are three points back of the final playoff spots held by the Regina Pats and Broncos.
Pasha Bocharov opened the scoring for Medicine Hat in both games, and after Sunday, said losses like that push the group even more.
“We’re in a spot where we want to get some points here,” Bocharov said. “And when the end result doesn’t go the way you want, it just makes you more motivated to push even harder.”
Sunday’s matchup with Swift Current was the fifth time since Dec. 31 the two teams have met. They have three more games against one another, including a home-and-home series to end the regular season. Having faced them as many times as of late, and having a 1-3-1 record in the process, Maser says he wouldn’t wish them away, he wants the Tigers to get them sooner than later.
“I’d like to play them every day,” Maser said. “Our guys want to play them every day, that loss doesn’t sit well with us and if we could get them tomorrow it would be great. Would give us a chance to get right back at them and I’m looking forward to next time we get to play them. They are a good team and we have to be ready every time we play them.”
The Tigers have the week to practise before they hit the road Saturday for Moose Jaw to take on the Warriors. Then on Sunday they are in Regina to face Connor Bedard and the Pats for the first time this season.
