By Mitch Bach

Fischer’s return spoiled, Tigers unravel Chiefs in 7-4 win

Oct 25, 2017 | 9:24 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Zach Fischer lit the lamp belonging to his former team, but the Medicine Hat Tigers spoiled his return to the Gas City with a 7-4 victory over the Spokane Chiefs on Wednesday night.

Tigers rookie Josh Williams found his offensive touch, putting together his first multi-goal performance of his career, and Ryan Chyzowski collected a team-high three points to give him seven in his last four games.

Medicine Hat has now won five of the last six games and improve their record to 8-4-0-0 to remain in first place in the Central Division. They also increase their home winning streak to four games, having not lost since hosting a bout with Prince Albert on October 7.

Spokane will look to take six of a possible eight points from an Alberta road trip Friday night in Red Deer.

Williams nabbed the first marker of the night with less than five minutes to go in the first period. Gary Haden collected his first of two assists, now boasting seven points in his last six games.

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Riley Woods tied the game 3:43 into the second frame, sneaking a low snap shot off the post on Jordan Hollett. Woods, now with a team-leading eight goals on the season, has nestled the net in three straight games, all of which against Central Division opponents.

Less than four minutes later, Dave Quenneville slipped a long snapper over the blocker of Dawson Weatherill to regain the Tigers lead at 2-1.

Fischer tied the game at two after a tenacious individual effort, corralling the puck from behind the goal line to eventually beat Hollett net-side. The 20-year-old, who was traded to the Chiefs last week, received a round of applause following the goal call. It’ll likely be his last at the Canalta Centre (baring any offence in a possible Tigers/Chiefs WHL Championship Series).

Ostir, making his home debut after being traded from Spokane for Fischer, fittingly regained the Tabbies with his first wearing orange and black. Tyler Prezuiso joined the scoring parade just 55 seconds later to increase the Tigers lead to 4-2, but Nolan Reid cut the deficit to one with the sixth and final goal of the period. 

Dawson Weatherill was replaced by Donovan Buskey between the pipes after allowing four goals on 17 shots. But the Chiefs netminding woes continued in the third period.

WIlliams scored on the powerplay early in the final frame, and was closely followed by Chyzowski’s lone marker and Jimmy Hamblin’s third of the year. That gave the Tigers a commanding 7-3 advantage. 

Spokane pushed offensively in the final ten minutes. Hudson Elynuik deked around Jordan Hollett on a breakaway to make it a three goal game, but the Tigers defence and goaltending came up huge in the clutch.

Hollett returned to the crease after Michael Bullion helped Medicine Hat win in Red Deer, stopping 36 shots fired his way. Buskey made 14 saves in just over 26 minutes of play.

The Tigers return to action Friday night, hosting the Moose Jaw Warriors in their annual Pink in the Rink night. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m.