NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers forward Markus Ruck takes a shot while falling during a late push in the third period of a 4-2 loss Wednesday at Co-op Place to the Edmonton Oil Kings.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The Medicine Hat Tigers have a weekend coming up they’ll have to start on time.
The Central division leaders enter a home-and-home series with the Swift Current Broncos, starting tonight on the road, coming off a 4-2 loss Wednesday at Co-op Place to the Edmonton Oil Kings.
A slow start in the first period put the Tigers behind 2-0 after 20 minutes. The winner came in the second period after the Tigers had cut the lead in half, though a third-period goal made it close before the Oil Kings sealed it with an empty netter.
They played two different games, associate coach Joe Frazer says, and deviated from their brand of hockey.
“Edmonton had a really good first period, in those games you have to find a way to play a full 60, they got one on the power play and we didn’t, that’s the difference.
“Give them credit, they came out hard and fast, we knew they were going to come out that way, they’re a good team. So it’s just making sure we’re getting to our game right away and doing it for the full 60.”
Dayton Reschny (8th) and Noah Davidson (16th) scored for the Tigers and Jordan Switzer finished with 20 saves. The loss narrowed the division gap between Medicine Hat and Edmonton to three points, with two more meetings to come between the rivals.
“It’s not what we wanted with the importance of the game, could go up seven points on them and now there’s only three,” Reschny said. “Not a good start but battled back to try to make it close. At the end of the second period we’d get some momentum and then we let off a little bit, penalties obviously didn’t help that, but nothing we can do now. We have to move on to the next one.”
The Tigers’ power play was held scoreless on three chances and has struggled without captain Bryce Pickford, running 1-19 during his absence. They’re still running at 29.7 per cent, good for third in the league. The chances finding twine in December are now hitting anything else, and they have to work through that, Frazer says.
“When you watch and look at the amount of chances they’re still creating and the zone time the power play is getting, you just have to trust the process,” Frazer said. “They’re doing a lot of really good things, they’re just not going in right now. So we’re continuing to watch and learn and continue to get better, but obviously we miss Picks, his shot and how much he creates.
“But they created 13 chances on the three power plays (Wednesday) that just didn’t go in. So we just have to keep working at it and keep getting better.”
The Tigers’ man advantage will get a chance for success this weekend against the league’s worst penalty kill, the Broncos running at 67.6 per cent.
Swift Current has lost two straight games, falling 5-3 Wednesday to the Moose Jaw Warriors. They drew within one with 11:50 left in the game but couldn’t tie it up. They’ve split the season series with the Broncos, losing 6-3 in Swift Current on Sept. 26 before taming the Broncos in a 10-2 win Dec. 13 at home.
Over the last five years, the Tigers have just three regular season wins in Swift Current’s InnovationPlex.
“It’s tough to go into that rink, they play hard there,” forward Markus Ruck said. “They’re a strong team, they play with good structure, and any team can win on any given night. So we’re going to have to be at our best and not cheat the game, play the right way.”
Markus and Liam Ruck were named to the leadership group for Team East at the WHL Prospects Game to be held Feb. 18 in Langley, B.C. Prince Albert Raiders defenceman Daxon Rudolph will captain Team East.
“It means a lot just being recognized as leaders going to that game,” Markus said. “I think we’re great leaders and we’re going to bring that to that game. It’s only one game, but we’re going to do what we can to help our team win.”
Their selection isn’t a surprise to Frazer.
“Everyone knows how good of hockey players they are, but they’re better people,” Frazer said. “They’re tremendous kids, so that’s a great honour and we’re very excited for them.”
The Rucks will be joined at the prospect game by forward Yaroslav Bryzgalov and goaltender Carter Casey.
