Tigers fall 5-1 Wednesday to Lethbridge

By James Tubb on March 6, 2024.

The Medicine Hat Tigers found no luck down the Highway 3 Wednesday night.

The Tigers allowed three first period goals en route to a 5-1 loss to the Lethbridge Hurricanes at the Enmax Centre.

They came into the contest off a 6-3 win Tuesday night at Co-op Place over the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Lethbridge opened the scoring 5:03 into the contest with a goal from Leo Braillard. His 12th of the season had assists from Miguel Marques and Tristen Doyle.

Just under 10 minutes later, Logan Wormald scored the eventual game winner with Brayden Edwards and Noah Chadwick recording the helpers. After 2:27 of play time, Wormald struck again with a shot that snuck through the five-hole of starter Jordan Switzer to make it a 3-0 Hurricane lead with 3:33 left in the frame.

That goal ended Switzer’s night, his first career WHL start and second appearance, making four saves on seven shots. Zach Zahara took over in net and turned aside 24 of 25 shots he faced.

Neither team scored in the second period with the Hurricanes leading the contest in shots 21-19 through 40 minutes.

The Hurricanes struck at the 10:18 mark of the third with a shot from Dylan Sydor. His 25th of the season was assisted by Braillard and Pakkala.

Medicine Hat got on the board one minute after the Sydor’s goal. Reid Andresen scored on a rush opportunity to break the goose egg and snap Harrison Meneghin’s shutout bid. Andrew Basha had the lone assist on Andresen’s seventh of the season.

Lethbridge scored on the empty Tiger net with 1:29 left in the game, Carter Dereniwsky getting the empty net goal for his fifth on the year. Edwards had the lone assist as the Hurricanes held on for the 5-1 win. Meneghin made 22 saves for Lethbridge.

Neither team capitalized on their special teams, Lethbridge had three power plays and Medicine Hat had one. The Tigers won the face off battle, 28-26.

The Tigers (35-20-5-2) are off Thursday as they head on a two-game Saskatchewan road trip, facing the Saskatoon Blades on Friday and the Prince Albert Raiders on Saturday.

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