Tigers fall 4-3 Sunday in Calgary, slide in standings

By James Tubb on March 19, 2023.

The Medicine Hat Tigers dropped their second game of the weekend against the Calgary Hitmen.

One day after getting shutout 2-0 by Calgary in Medicine Hat, the Tigers dropped a 3-1 lead in the third period to fall 4-3 on Sunday. The loss drops the Tigers from seventh in the Eastern conference to eighth with Calgary climbing up into the seventh spot.

Medicine Hat go on the board first 5:58 into the first period on Brendan Lee’s 29th goal of the season. Gavin McKenna had the lone assist on the marker. McKenna was in the Tigers lineup Sunday for the first time since his U18 team, the South Alberta Hockey Academy, was eliminated from their playoff run, allowing the 15-year-old to play in the WHL full-time for the rest of the season.

The Hitmen answered back with seven seconds left in the first period to tie the game up at 1-1. Sean Tschigerl potted his 25th of the season, capitalizing on a power play. Calgary led the first period in shots, 12-9.

Medicine Hat turned on the offence in the second period with McKenna’s second career WHL goal. Tyler MacKenzie and Lee had the helpers on McKenna’s marker coming 12:26 into the second frame. A little over four minutes later, Bogdans Hodass capitalized on the rush with his 11th goal of the season. Cayden Lindstrom and Reid Andresen had the assists.

Calgary appeared to score with 1:21 left in the second period before the goal was waved as it was determined Oliver Tulk kicked the puck across the goal line. After a length review, the call stood and Medicine Hat carried the 3-1 lead into the third period.

The final frame was all Hitmen as they drew within one and then tied the game within the first 5:10 of the third.

Tulk capitalized on another Calgary power play, scoring his 23rd of the season exactly five minutes into the third. Just 10 seconds later, Brandon Whynott scored his fifth of the year to tie the game up at 3-3.

Exactly four minutes later, Carson Wetsch potted his 10th of the season and the eventual game winner. Medicine Hat pushed with the extra attacker but could not score that fourth goal on Brayden Peters as the Hitmen held on for the 4-3 win.

Peters, who started all three of Calgary’s games this weekend with a record of 2-1, made 27 saves in the win. Across the ice from him, Beckett Langkow, who was in net for Saturday’s loss, had 28 saves on Sunday.

The Tigers (28-28-8-1) are back in action Wednesday when they host the Edmonton Oil Kings at Co-op Place.