Tigers fall 3-2 at Edmonton Friday

By James Tubb on November 22, 2024.

On an evening showing the first signs of winter, the Medicine Hat Tigers allowed the final goal of the night.

The Tigers carried a 2-1 lead into the third period of action at Edmonton’s Rogers Place before the Oil Kings scored a pair of goals to beat the Tabbies 3-2. Medicine Hat came into the contest off a 3-2 overtime win Wednesday at Prince Albert over the Radiers.

The Tigers opened the scoring against Edmonton, finding twine 7:07 into the game.

Off a face off in the Oil Kings’ end, Marcus Pacheco won the draw back and Ryder Ritchie came off the wall to pick up the puck and backhand it on net, ultimately past starter Alex Worthington. Pacheco had the lone assist on Ritchie’s second of the season, a goal that gives the Minnesota Wild prospect points in five-straight games, four in a row since returning from injury.

Edmonton responded a little over three minutes later. The Oil Kings’ Gracyn Sawchyn capitalized on a rebound off the pads of Jordan Switzer, finding the back of the net for his 10th on the year. Adam Jecho and Rhys Pederson had the assists on the Oil Kings’ marker.

The Tigers ended the first with a 2-1 lead that carried into the third.

Bryce Pickford fired a shot from the point that found twine, for the one-goal advantage with 2:20 left in the opening period. Gavin McKenna and Mat Ward had the assists on Pickford’s ninth, the league leader for defencemen goals. McKenna’ assist gives him points in eight-straight games.

Edmonton led in shots after 20 minutes, 17-11, with both teams firing eight shots on net in the second. The Tigers got a break on an Edmonton power playmate in the second, as Gracyn Sawchyn fired a puck from the low circles to the right of Switzer, thathit both cross bar and far post, staying out of the net.

The Oil Kings made it a whole new hockey game 2:39 into the third.

On a two-on-two rush, Cole Miller broke wide around a defender and fired a shot that beat Switzer blocker side to make it a 2-2 game. Gavin Hodnett and Miroslav Holinka had the assists on Miller’s seventh.

The two teams push in the third to avoid overtime, with Medicine Hat leading the frame in shots 11-7. It was the Oil Kings, with 4:01 left in the game, that found the game winner.

Landon Hanson had the puck behind the Medicine Hat net and caught Switzer looking the wrong way, sending a pass to Marshall Finnie standing on the door step and he made good, potting his fifth of the season with the 3-2 marker.

The Tigers tried to gather momentum for the tying goal, pulling Switzer with 1:40 left in the game. Edmonton iced the puck to set up a pair of offensive-zone draws for Medicine Hat. They had a chance in the dying seconds, Ward stood at the side of the net and deflected a point pass from McKenna into the slot that captain Oasiz Wiesblatt connected on. He swung for the fences, with the puck bouncing off Worthington before being cleared down the ice to cement the Edmonton win.

Worthington finished the ninth with 28 saves for his 10th win of the season. Across the ice from him, Switzer made 29 saves in his sixth start and eighth appearance. He was backed up by 15-year-old Cash Christie with 20-year-old net minder Harrison Meneghin scratched after leaving Wednesday’s win in the first period with a lower body injury.

Edmonton led the game in shots, 32-30 and face off wins, 40-28. Neither team capitalized on special teams, Edmonton 0-4 and Tigers 0-1.

The Tigers (13-11) are back at Co-op Place on Saturday to finish a stretch of four games in five nights. They host the Saskatoon Blades, the team they kicked off the stretch against with a 5-3 loss Tuesday.

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