Southern Alberta Newspapers Justin Seward
Lethbridge Hurricanes goaltender Brady Smith's mask pops off as he covers the puck with Medicine Hat Tigers forward Oasis Wiesblatt battling with defenceman Logan McCutcheon battle in front of the net during WHL action at VisitLethbridge.com Arena on Wednesday night.
The Medicine Hat Tigers walked a long and lonely road to the penalty box Wednesday night.
The Tigers surrendered three power play goals on seven penalties, squandering a 6-3 lead to fall 7-6 at Lethbridge to the Hurricanes. Wednesday’s loss wraps a four-game road streak for the Tigers who had a 2-2 record in the span.
The contest also marked goaltender Harrison Meneghin’s return to Lethbridge since he was acquired by the Tigers on Oct. 5. He made 18 saves in the loss. The return in the deal, 19-year-old Shane Smith, had two assists for the Hurricanes.
The Tigers opened the scoring 4:34 into the game with a power play goal from the point from Jonas Woo. Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll and Kadon McCann had the assists on Woo’s third of the season.
Lethbridge scored two unanswered goals in the frame, with Logan McCutcheon scoring on a power play at 6:55 and Leo Braillard finding twine at 11:22 for the 2-1 advantage. Smith assisted on McCutcheon’s goal.
The Tigers grabbed a 3-2 lead after 20 minutes with a pair of goals in the last three minutes. While shorthanded, forward Andrew Basha carried the puck from his end and muscled his way past a defender, scoring top shelf for his seventh of the season. With 19 seconds left in the period and 1:42 after Basha’s marker, Gavin McKenna scored on a three-on-one breakaway, finishing off a pass from Oasiz Wiesblatt for his 10th of the season.
Lethbridge opened the scoring 2:25 into the middle frame. Brayden Edwards capitalized on a rush, fresh off a penalty kill, tying the game up at 3-3.
The Tigers rattled off three-straight goals for a 6-3 lead.
On a power play, defenceman Bryce Pickford fired a shot from the point that found twine at 3:19 for the lead. McKenna and Wiesblatt had the assists on his sixth. A little under two minutes later, Wiesblatt tipped in a shot from McKenna for the 5-3 lead. Matt Paranych had the second assist on Wiesblatt’s sixth on the year. The goal chased Lethbridge goalie Brady Smith, who allowed five goals on 16 shots. Koen Cleaver took over, making 17 saves on the night.
They capped off the run with a second shorthanded goal of the game. Hunter St. Martin pressured the Hurricanes’ in their end and drove the net with the puck, scoring his 14th of the season for the 6-3 lead at 7:40. The Hurricanes took over the rest of the way, scoring four unanswered goals for the win.
They rattled off two goals to end the second period, with Kash Andresen and Logan Warmold scored on separate power plays in the frame to make it a 6-5 game after 40 minutes. Medicine Hat led the game in shots 22-20 after 40 minutes.
Lethbridge tied the game up at 6-6 6:29 into the third period with Braillard’s second of the game. Shane Smith had an assist on the goal.
They took the final lead with 7:46 left in the game with Cameron Norris scoring on a one-timer for the 7-6 final. Medicine Hat was two-for-four on the power play, also winning the face off battle 39-34. Lethbridge improves their home record to 8-1-1 with the win.
The Tigers (9-8) hosts the Edmonton Oil Kings at Co-op Place on Friday.
