Cubs look to bounce back from Game 4 loss

By JAMES TUBB on March 3, 2023.

jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb

The Medicine Hat Cubs’ best-of-seven semifinals series against the Cochrane Generals has become a best of three.

With a 6-4 loss at Cochrane on Wednesday, the series is tied 2-2 with Game 5 back in Medicine Hat at the Kinplex tonight. Head coach Randy Wong says the Cubs allowed Cochrane too many quality chances.

“I don’t think we worked hard enough to earn that win and we knew they were going to play a little more desperate,” Wong said. “That’s a team that knew they couldn’t go down 3-1 and go into our barn, and we didn’t do enough to go up 3-1 to try and finish it at home; that part was disappointing.

“From the beginning we knew it was going to be a long series and it’s shaping up to be that with a lot of one-goal games.”

Game 4 was a 3-3 after 40 minutes in Cochrane, with Medicine Hat notching two first-period goals from Kyle Woolridge and Cooper Hilworth, and a second-period marker from Jackson Bowal.

Levi Schlosser scored in the third but it wasn’t enough with a three-goal period from the Generals. Mark Peddle was between the pipes and had 16 saves in the loss.

Game 5 is tonight at 8:15 p.m., Game 6 goes Saturday at Cochrane and, if needed, the deciding Game 7 is back at the Kinplex Sunday at 5:15 p.m.

Whichever team wins the series will take on the first-place Okotoks Bisons, who swept their second round opponents, the Strathmore Wheatland Kings. That series wrapped up Feb. 26.

Having to win two of their next three games, Wong says it will come down to being more consistent.

“Both teams are built the same and we’ve both recognized that,” Wong said. “You have to make good with your scoring chances, you have to minimize your mistakes and when it comes down to it, each game has been a little bit different. We’ve been on the good side of that a couple times and we’ve let some things go against us.

“It really comes down to the best of three and we’ve got two of the three at home, that’s favourable and that’s what we worked hard for. We’ll look to continue playing well at home and getting up on them and looking after Game 5, making sure we come out of that game with the win.”

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