PHOTO COURTESY NATHAN REITER PRINCE ALBERT DAILY HERALD
Medicine Hat Tigers forward Liam Ruck starts the goal train after scoring in the first period of the Tigers' 3-2 overtime win Wednesday at Prince Albert over the Raiders.
The Medicine Hat Tigers weathered an early injury for an overtime win Wednesday at Prince Albert.
Medicine Hat lost goaltender Harrison Meneghin late in the first period with a lower body injury but ultimately held off the Raiders for a 3-2 overtime win. They outshot Prince Albert 55-28 through 61:06 of action for the 13th win of the season.
The Tigers came into the game off a 5-3 loss Tuesday at Saskatoon to the Blades. Wednesday night’s matchup was also the first meeting of the two clubs since they swapped 2006-born forwards in the offseason, with Ryder Ritchie traded to the Tigers for Tomas Mrsic.
The Tigers were unable to capitalize on an early power play but made good minutes later with the youngest line on the team.
Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll created a turnover in the neutral zone and carried the puck into the Raiders’ end before sending a pass to Markus Ruck. He threaded a pass to twin-brother Liam who scored with a tap-in goal for the 1-0 lead 7:32 into the game. His fourth of the season gave him points in four straight games.
The Raiders tied the game up late in the period in a moment that brought turmoil for the Tigers.
After a brief five-on-three man advantage, the Raiders fired a shot on Meneghin who sprawled out and was bumped into, falling into the splits while attempting to corral the loose puck. He was unable to make the stop as Raiders’ centre Aidan Oiring scored on the power play for a 1-1 tie with 1:59 left in the frame. Meneghin remained down on the ice and was attended to by trainer Mikki Lanuk before being helped off, unable to put any weight on his right leg. The 20-year-old net minder made 12 stops in the opening frame.
Jordan Switzer came into the game in relief and made three quick saves to keep it a 1-1 game after 20 minutes. He finished his night with 14 saves and the win.
Both teams pushed in the second period to snap the tie, Medicine Hat outshooting the Raiders 12-6 in the frame and 29-22 after 40 minutes. Each side had a pair of power plays in the frame, the Tigers killed off a late Prince Albert man advantage to maintain the tie through the middle stanza.
After sustained pressure to start the period, the Tigers grabbed a lead just over the halfway point of the third. Medicine Hat pushed on a power play, thwarted by Raiders’ net minder Max Hildebrand. As the power play expired, McKenna was below the goal line and banked a puck off the back of Hildebrand for a 2-1 lead at 12:14. Bryce Pickford and Ryder Ritchie had the assists on McKenna’s 15th of the season, who extended his point streak to seven games with the goal. Ritchie’s assist also gives him points in three-straight games since returning from injury.
The Raiders tied the game up with 1:24 left in the third. On a rush opportunity from their own end, Niall Crocker crossed the blue line, drawing the attention of the Medicine Hat defence before sending a pass to Krzysztof Macias. He was all alone at the high circle before scoring blocker side on Switzer for the 2-2 score, forcing overtime.
Medicine Hat controlled the pace in the extra frame. After some Tigers pressure, the Raiders carried the puck back into their end with Mrsic corralling the puck before skating up ice. He was pickpocketed by Mckenna who sent a pass over to Hunter St. Martin.
The 19-year-old forward called game 1:18 into the extra frame, one-timing a blast past Hildebrand for his 18th goal of the season and the 3-2 final score. The goal was also St. Martin’s 50th in his WHL career.
Medicine Hat was scoreless on four power plays, Prince Albert converted on one of four man advantages. The Raiders won the face off battle, 33-29.
The Tigers (13-10) are off Thursday before heading to Edmonton on Friday to face the Oil Kings for the third of a four-game in five-day stretch.
