NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers forward Liam Ruck stands at the net front in the Lethbridge end in the first period of a 7-4 win Saturday at Co-op Place over the Hurricanes.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The Medicine Hat Tigers get a gauntlet week underway tonight.
They are in Edmonton taking on the Oil Kings for the first of two meetings this week against the Central division rivals, who sit one point back of the Tigers. They also host the Prince Albert Raiders on Saturday, who, like Edmonton, sit one point back for the conference lead.
It’s a battle between conference leader and those looking to sit atop the East, a test to see where they stand, says head coach Willie Desjardins.
“Those are tough games, both good teams, both loaded up at the deadline, they’re going to be hard for sure,” Desjardins said. “But it’s always good. You want to see where you stand. However we do, we still have to get better, we’re not where we need to be. So win or lose, we have to get better, we know that. But it’ll be good.”
The Tigers will also look to set a new team record, their 17-game win streak tied with the 2006-07 team for the longest stretch of wins.
“It’s a cool streak to look at for sure, but this is just another game coming up here,” forward Liam Ruck said. “We’re just trying to get our two points and another win there.”
Edmonton leads the season series with the Tigers 2-1, with the Tigers winning the first matchup before losing the last two, the latest a 4-3 shootout loss Nov. 7 at Co-op Place. The Oil Kings enter the contest nearly as hot, riding an eight-game heater and running a 12-2-2-1 record at Rogers Place this season.
Forward Miroslav Holinka, fresh off a silver medal with Czechia at the World Juniors, leads the team in scoring with 26 goals and 60 points in 37 games. The 20-year-old Toronto Maple Leafs prospect had a goal and four points at the U20 tournament in Minnesota.
The Tigers have had success in Edmonton over the last five years, with a 9-6 record at the home of the Oil Kings and Oilers. Neither team shares much love for one another as they’ve faced off in a few battles over the last 12 months.
“They have a deep team every year it seems, so they’re going to give us a good challenge and we just got to be ready for that,” Ruck said.
The Tigers will likely be without defenceman Veeti Väisänen, who is listed day to day with an upper-body injury suffered from a hit in the first period of Friday’s 8-3 win over the Seattle Thunderbirds. Desjardins says they will evaluate the Finnish product ahead of the weekend.
The Tigers head coach says he talked with the league about the hit, unpenalized in the moment. He says it was a fair check.
“There is a ruling in the league where even if it’s a clean check it’s boarding if he goes violently into the boards, and he certainly went into the boards violently,” Desjardins said. “So maybe that could have come under that ruling. But the check, it was from the front. It was maybe a little bit late, but I’ve seen a lot worse.”
The four-game suspension levied against forward Yaroslav Bryzgalov for a check to the head in the same game was longer than he expected. Dayton Reschny slotted into the lineup for Bryzgalov in Saturday’s 7-4 win over the Lethrbdige Hurricanes, tallying a goal and an assist.
Desjardins says Reschny or Gavin Kor, who hasn’t played since Dec. 30, will slot in tonight. Kor’s extended stretch in the press box isn’t reflective on his play, Desjardins says, but of how the rest of the team has played.
“Guys have played well that have gone in,” Desjardins said.
“(Kade) Stengrim is on his six-game scoring streak, he’s playing really good. Reschny comes in, plays good. It’s more how hard those guys have played. It’s not to say for sure that if Kor comes in, he won’t do that as well. We’re going to need everybody by the end of the year.”
The Tigers had six skaters named to NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings released Monday.
Five skaters were ranked on the North American list, forwards Liam Ruck (26th), Markus Ruck (31st), Yaroslav Bryzgalov (99th), defenceman Riley Steen (188th) and forward Kadon McCann (215). Goaltender Carter Casey was ranked 12th among North American goaltenders.
Desjardins was happy to see the group get recognized but was befuddled at who was left off.
“It’s great for all those guys, they all deserve it,” Desjardins said. “I’m shocked Jonas Woo isn’t in that group, like I can’t believe it. He’s had an unbelievable year, we’ve had lots of guys talk to us about him, so I was shocked.”
The 19-year-old defenceman sits second in WHL defenceman scoring, behind his D-partner Bryce Pickford, with 20 goals and 56 points. His +51 plus-minus leads the WHL.
“How can you not take a chance, the guy’s a point per game, he’s leading the league as a defenceman,” Desjardins said. “I’ve coached Dallas, I’ve been a little bit with (Jared) Spurgeon. Woosy is quick he’s in that group. Those guys do different things and those are great players. I’m not talking guys that snuck into the NHL, I’m talking about guys who are elite guys in the NHL, and and he’s in that group.”
“I don’t know how you can’t take a chance on the guy, he’s too competitive. So whatever happens, happens. But he’s had an incredible year for us and hopefully he gets recognized.”
