NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers goaltender Carter Casey makes a stick save on a Portland Winterhawks' breakaway attempt in the second period of WHL action Saturday at Co-op Place. The save was one of Casey's 31 saves en route to his first WHL shutout in the 5-0 win.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The Medicine Hat Tigers achieved a rare feat with a win Saturday night.
The 5-0 victory at Co-op Place over the Portland Winterhawks saw Carter Casey stop 31 shots for his first WHL shutout, coming in just his second start. But more importantly, it brought two points after a 4-2 loss Friday at Calgary to the Hitmen, a loss that snapped a four-game win streak.
That win did more than put two points on the board. It brought a smile to the face of head coach Willie Desjardins, who often remains stoic regardless of a loss or a bloated win.
“Since we got two tonight, I’m a lot happier tonight to get those two,” Desjardins said comparing their weekend games. “In Calgary, we were good enough to win but we didn’t win. We hurt ourselves a little bit, so we have to improve. We did things Saturday night that hurt us, too, and we have to get better. But it was great getting those points.”
Friday’s loss saw the Tigers allow too many outnumbered rushes and surrender turnovers that resulted in goals. There were outnumbered rushes allowed on Saturday, all turned aside by Casey who has continued to shine through his first two looks at the WHL.
“I felt good, it was good that in my second start it’s the second time we’ve had a goal scored within the first 30 seconds, so that was nice, kind of settled me in a little bit,” Casey said. “We did a really good job tonight, my first couple shots were pretty easily handleable, they could give me feel of the puck.”
Through two starts and a relief appearance where he took the loss, Casey is running a .944 save percentage and a 1.61 goals against average. Desjardins has continued to like what he’s seen from the U.S. goaltender through his first showings.
“Not just 31 saves, he probably had four or five breakaways in there as well, so he was outstanding,” Desjardins said. “He really played the puck well, too, so that was big night. He said two back-to-back games here that he’s been very good.”
Alongside Casey, Jordan Switzer has worked to a .909 SV% and a 2.55 GAA, picking up four wins, tabbed with Friday’s loss, just his first on the year. Having two goaltenders have that kind of success early gives the Tigers the ability to keep both at top form, Desjardins says.
“You don’t know what you have really until the season gets going, but that’s exciting for us,” Desjardins said. “Both guys are very capable, and you need that. It’s just like forwards now, you put so much in a game it’s a lot easier when you’re fresh. So we should be able to try to keep guys pretty fresh and that should be good.”
Saturday’s win saw two other milestones accomplished. Defenceman Riley Steen scored his first WHL goal, finding the back of the net 29 seconds into the game to tally his first point as well. Coming in his 25th game, it was his first time being in the starting five, a moment that made the whole night special for the 17-year-old.
“Standing on the blue line, looking at the Canadian flag was pretty cool,” Steen said. “Then first shift, the puck came out and I didn’t really see if someone touched it but people started cheering and it was just amazing. Especially with the Rucks on the ice, too, coming from U15 prep with those guys all over here, getting drafted with them, it’s just a special feeling with those guys.”
Defenceman Luke Warrener recorded an assist in the win, his first WHL point coming in his second game. Forward Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll finished with a goal and an assist in the win, giving him six goals and eight points in four games to start his year.
The Tigers’ special teams flexed their muscles over the weekend, with the penalty kill stopping all nine man advantages they faced across the two games. The power play was 4-9. Both units have seen their efficiency ratings climb, with the Tigers’ kill running at 88.2 per cent and the power play humming at 26.7 per cent.
They were without defenceman Niilopekka Muhonen all weekend, he’s been scratched the last three games with an injury and is listed day to day. Blue liner Jonas Woo served a one-game suspension on Saturday for a checking to the head major and game misconduct in Friday’s loss.
The Tigers have one final home game in October, hosting the Spokane Chiefs tonight at Co-op Place before they embark on their six-game B.C. road trip.
It’s the first meeting between the clubs since the Tigers beat the Chiefs in the WHL Championship series in May. Desjardins says both teams will be ready for that rematch.
“It always means something, they’ll be good and we will have to be ready,” Desjardins said.
For forward Cam Parr, acquired from the Chiefs on Sept. 22, it will be a unique experience to face off against friends he made in his three seasons with the U.S. club.
“That’ll be cool, I’ve never really experienced something like that before so It’ll be nice, but we also have a game to win,” Parr said.
