Tigers collect three points over weekend, remain firmly embedded in playoff battle

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on January 31, 2023.

sports@medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

The Medicine Hat Tigers are continuing their efforts to secure a playoff spot.

After falling 3-2 in overtime Saturday in Moose Jaw against the Warriors, the Tigers came back to beat the Regina Pats 6-4 Sunday afternoon on the road for a three-point weekend. They have picked up points in each of the past six games, with four wins and two overtime losses.

On Saturday, the Tigers led the Warriors 2-1 early in the third, with a first-period goal from Oasiz Wiesblatt (17th) and an early third marker from Owen MacNeil (7th). The Warriors scored with less than five minutes remaining to tie it up at 2-2 and netted the overtime winner 40 seconds into the extra frame.

Beckett Langkow made 29 saves in the loss.

Against the Pats, the Tigers trailed 4-2 heading into the third period before scoring four unanswered for a 6-4 comeback win.

Pats superstar Connor Bedard had three goals and an assist in the first 30 minutes of the game.

Pasha Bocharov (10th) and Andrew Basha (11th) scored for Medicine Hat in the same span. Bogdans Hodass scored twice in the third period (8, 9th) for the tie and 16-year-old Tomas Mrsic had the eventual game winner (7th). Brayden Boehm finished the game off with an empty-netter (18th).

Langkow had 21 saves for his 17th win of the season.

The Tigers (19-21-7-1) are tied for eighth place in the Eastern Conference, the final playoff spot. The Pats (22-21-1-1) hold the standing with more regulation wins and three games in hand.

Medicine Hat’s next action is Saturday when the Tigers host the Lethbridge Hurricanes at Co-op Place before the Pats come to town on Sunday.