Shorthanded Tigers lose to Swift Current Friday

By James Tubb on March 15, 2024.

A depleted Medicine Hat Tigers lineup couldn’t find success in a near-sellout InnovationPlex Friday.

The Tigers, playing with only 15 skaters, lost 8-4 to the Central division leading Swift Current Broncos in front of a sold-out crowd of 2,890.

The loss is Medicine Hat’s fourth in a row, their longest slide of the season. They were without forwards Gavin McKenna, Marcus Pacheco, Vasyl Spilka, Cayden Lindstrom and defenceman Reid Andresen in the loss.

The Tigers opened the scoring with a goal from Tomas Mrsic 3:28 into the contest. Andrew Basha had a helper.

Swift Current scored three unanswered goals in the first period starting with Luke Mistelbacher on a power play at 12:12. They grabbed a lead 45 seconds later with a shot from the point off the stick of Tyson Galloway.

The Broncos rounded out the first with a goal from Owen Pickering with 31 seconds left in the first period.

Swift Current scored first in the middle period, with Brady Birnie scoring 2:41 into the frame. His goal ended Zach Zahara’s night as he was pulled after allowing four goals on 22 shots.Ethan McCallum took over and made 13 saves.

The Tigers got on the board in the second period with Mrsic’s second of the night 10:15 into the frame. Basha had the only helper on Mrsic’s 23rd.

The Broncos rattled off three more goals. Rylan Gould jammed in a puck on a power play 2:04 after Mrsic’s second goal.

Swift Current opened the scoring 7:52 into the third with a goal from Clarke Caswell. They added to their lead with a power play goal from Ty Coupland at the 11:24 mark.

Kadon McCann scored with eight minutes left in the game. Hayden Harsanyi had the lone assist on his ninth of the season.

After Ryan McCleary scored shorthanded at the 16:01 mark, Rhett Parsons scored on the power play 21 seconds later. Harsanyi and Dru Krebs with the assists on Parsons’ sixth of the season.

The Broncos outshot the Tigers 40-35, Swift Current capitalized on three of six power plays and the Tigers were one for two on their man advantage.

The end of the game was delayed with multiple scrums that ended with the Tigers racking up 57 penalty minutes and the Broncos collecting 42 PIMs.

The Tigers (35-23-5-2) host the Broncos on Saturday at Co-op Place.

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