NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers forward Shane Smith celebrates his game opening goal in the first two minutes of the Tigers 5-3 win over the Calgary Hitmen on Saturday at Co-op Place.
The Medicine Hat Tigers continued their strong start to the 2023-24 season with a home opener victory.
The Tigers held off a comeback attempt to beat the Calgary Hitmen 5-3 Saturday at Co-op Place. Medicine Hat came into the contest off a 4-1 win Friday at Calgary.
Head coach Willie Desjardins called it a good win but says it gives them somethings to work on during practice this week.
“The boys had a really good start, backed off a little bit, the Hitmen found a couple in the second with a tip in front and then traffic in the crease,” Desjardins said. “They got back in it but I thought we were resilient after that. I don’t think we gave up much after that point of time. But they’re missing a few guys so we have some work to do.”
Shane Smith opened the scoring 1:47 into the contest, bringing the 3,798 Tigers fans in attendance to their feet. The Cessford, Alta. product’s goal marked his second of the season and kicked off a busy first 10 minutes for Medicine Hat.
Andrew Basha knocked in a loose puck on a power play at the 4:13 mark for his first goal of the season. Forwards Gavin McKenna and Cayden Lindstrom had the assists. Just under two minutes later, McKenna carried the puck into the Calgary end and fired a shot over the shoulder of Ethan Buenaventura for a 3-0 Tigers lead.
The 15-year-old forward got the puck free from a Calgary defender before scoring his first of the young season.
“I poked the puck out on the d-man there and then saw McKenzie coming down, he kind of picked that d-man for me, which gave me a lot more time,” McKenna said. “Then I just saw the high blocker open there, so I just shot it there and it went in.”
McKenna’s goal caused Buenaventura from the game, he allowed three straight goals and was relived by Alex Garrett who made 23 saves in his 52:52 of action. The Hitmen answered back in the first period with a goal from David Adaszynski just before the halfway mark of the stanza.
Calgary capitalized on some tough plays in front of Medicine Hat net minder Evan May and tied the game up at 3-3 in a matter of eight seconds.
Matteo Danis redirected a shot from the point at the 9:03 mark to bring the hitmen within one and then Carter Yakemchuk scored while there was traffic in the crease, offering just enough distraction to find the back of the net and a tie.
After that, May turned aside all the shots he faced picking up his second win of the season with 22 saves. The 19-year-old Nanimo, B.C. product says he just applied some of his mental work and was able to regain control after the short wave of offence.
“Just having a good bounce back, I work with my mental coach all the time on that, just practicing what I’ve practiced in the summer,” May said.
The Tigers regained the lead five minutes later as Basha put on a shot on net that floated over top of Garrett for the 4-3 advantage. Lindstrom and Cur Hanas had the assists on Basha’s second of the night.
“Tt’s nice to get the little stuff but just more important is coming out of that weekend 2-0, it’s so important,” Basha said. “The goals and offence will come, I just have to focus on doing my thing and playing good.”
It was Lindstrom who found the empty net late in the third period as well, with Basha and Reid Andresen picking up the assists, for the Tigers 5-3 victory.
The Tigers had a perfect penalty kill on the night, stopping all four Calgary power plays. On the opposite special team side, their power play was two for seven.
Medicine Hat has the week to practice before they are at Red Deer on Friday to take on the Rebels. Their next home game is next Saturday when they host the Saskatoon Blades.
