By Scott Roblin

Tigers allow late goal in wild third period, drop 5-4 decision to Hitmen

Feb 11, 2018 | 4:45 PM

CALGARY, AB – A third period to forget Sunday afternoon for the Medicine Hat Tigers, falling back to earth against the Calgary Hitmen to close out their weekend home-and-home series.

Medicine Hat gave up three goals in the third period to fall by a 5-4 final score after taking a 3-2 lead into the final frame.

After becoming the Tigers’ all-time leader in points by a defenceman on Friday, David Quenneville continued his stellar weekend with the game’s opening goal 9:41 into the frame from the blueline.

Former Medicine Hat goaltender Nick Schneider was rock solid for the Hitmen in the opening period, stopping 19 of the 20 shots he faced.

Dakota Krebs made good 5:33 into the second period, netting his second as a member of the Hitmen off the post and in to tie the game at 1-1 for Calgary.

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Just over one minute later, the Hitmen took their first lead of the afternoon off the tape of Carson Focht, sneaking it by Michael Bullion to make it 2-1.

Calgary’s Vladislav Yeryomenko was booked for slashing shortly after, putting the Tigers on their third power play of the game.

That allowed Ryan Jevne to pick up the puck and snipe far side on his former teammate for his 13th of the season, knotting the game at 2-2 midway through the second.

The Tigers regained their lead with a little over a minute left in the period, getting the game back to a 3-2 from a shot courtesy of Bryan Lockner.

Bullion was able to keep Calgary at bay for the first few minutes of the third, but Focht was able to break through with his second of the afternoon to swing momentum back to the home side.

Shortly after, Conner Chaulk made an impact with his 12th goal of the campaign to give the Hitmen the lead again with 9:51 remaining in regulation.

Medicine Hat wasn’t ready for lights out however, as captain Mark Rassell picked up a loose puck in the slot, spun, and fired a snap shot past Schneider with 5:35 left to tie the game again.

Sunday’s game belonged to the Hitmen though, netting the game-winner from Chaulk with 1:48 left in the third period to send Medicine Hat packing.

Both goalies were kept busy at the Saddledome, with Bullion making 42 saves in the loss and Schneider stopping 44 pucks.

Unable to extend their lead in the Central Division with 63 points, the 28-23-7-0 Tigers are still seven points ahead of the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

Some down time ahead for the boys in black and orange, as they are off until Friday night when they head to Swift Current to open a home-and-home series with the powerhouse Broncos.