By Scott Roblin

Tigers lead dries up against Giants, lose 5-3 decision

Jan 6, 2018 | 9:34 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Special teams can only do so much, as that was the story of Saturday night’s meeting between the Medicine Hat Tigers and Vancouver Giants.

Medicine Hat scored twice on the power play and once shorthanded against the Giants, but dropped a 5-3 decision to the British Columbia club.

Just 1:25 into the first period Joel Craven was booked for delay of game, but that didn’t seem to faze the ‘Tabbies.’

Medicine Hat streaked down the ice with a two-on-none breakaway chance shorthanded, with Tyler Preziuso netting his 11th of the season.

That 1-0 lead didn’t hold for long though, as the Giants scored their first of the game just under seven minutes in from Dawson Holt to tie things up at 1-1.

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The Tigers power play went to work early in the second period, jumping back into the lead with Ryan Chyzowski finding the back of the net for his second point on the night.

Less than a minute later, Kaleb Bulych picked up the puck below the Tigers goal line and centred it to Brad Morrison, who snapped a one-timer past Jordan Hollett.

Vancouver took their first lead of the game 8:27 into the second period, scoring their own shorthanded tally courtesy of Brayden Watts to jump ahead 3-2.

Medicine Hat went back to the power play shortly after Watts’ goal, tying the game at 3-3 with a Gary Haden tip past Todd Scott.

That score held until the third period, when Ty Ronning sniped blocker side on Hollett 5:38 into the frame while on the power play to put the Giants ahead 4-3.

With a little over eight minutes left in regulation, the Giants added some insurance with a point shot by Darian Skeoch tipped by Holt for his second of the game to make it a 5-3 contest.

That stood up as the final score, dropping Medicine Hat’s record on the season to 22-16-3.

Vancouver outshot the Tigers by a count of 30-25, while Hollett was credited with his ninth loss of the season between the pipes with a 29-save performance.

It was a loss Saturday for the Kootenay ICE as well, meaning the Tigers remain eight points clear of first place in the Central Division.

Medicine Hat now loads up the bus for a four-game eastern road swing, which will start Wednesday night against the Saskatoon Blades.