By Scott Roblin

Rassell guides Tigers to 7-3 victory in Game 2 over Brandon

Mar 25, 2018 | 9:14 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Mark Rassell has had many memorable nights over his WHL career, but Sunday’s Game 2 against the Brandon Wheat Kings rivalled his best.

The Tigers captain netted two goals and two assists against the Wheaties to help Medicine Hat to an offensively-charged 7-3 win to take a 2-0 series lead.

Much like Friday night it didn’t take long for the Tigers to strike first, as Logan Thompson couldn’t stop all of a Ryan Chyzowski wrist shot 4:48 into the opening period.

Just past the midway mark of the period the Wheat Kings were unable to clear the puck, setting up a David Quenneville bomb from the point that doubled the Tigers lead to 2-0.

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Following a Ty Lewis penalty high-sticking penalty shortly after, Mark Rassell picked up his third point of the period with a snipe on the power play to make it a 3-0 Medicine Hat lead.

Marcus Sekundiak delivered Brandon’s first goal of the night early in the second period, jamming home a rebound sitting in front of Jordan Hollett less than three minutes into the frame.

Rassell’s extraordinary night continued just 19 seconds however, getting his second goal and fourth point of the night to make it a 4-1 game.

Already injury riddled, the Tigers almost lost Henry Rybinski midway through the frame after taking a hit to the head from James Shearer.

After some attention on the bench, the rookie was able to make a return to the ice later in the second.

Medicine Hat’s power play continued to roll with Jaeger White feeding a perfect pass to Elijah Brown at the side of the net, scoring the Tigers’ fifth goal of the game three minutes before the second intermission.

The Tigers went to their sixth power play four minutes into the third but it was the Wheat Kings taking advantage, with Ty Lewis skating in alone and sniping on Hollett shorthanded to cut the deficit to 5-2.

Luck seemed to be on Medicine Hat’s side though, as White’s shot on the power play was deflected by a Wheat Kings defenceman past Thompson a minute later to restore the four-goal advantage.

Brandon added another goal from Sekundiak midway through the third, but the Tigers capped off the night with an unassisted Josh Williams goal with 1:31 left to seal a 7-3 win in Game 2.

Hollett made 22 saves to earn his second straight playoff win, while Thompson left with injury late in the third with six goals allowed on 33 shots against.

While Rassell was the star on Sunday, Brown, Quenneville, and White all had multi-point showings in the win.

Through two playoff games, Rassell has three goals and four assists to sit tied for second in WHL playoff scoring.

Leading the best-of-seven series 2-0, the Tigers will now hit the road for Dauphin, Manitoba for the next two games.

Game 3 will be held on Tuesday night at 6:30 pm, while Game 4 goes at the same time on Wednesday evening.