Tigers captain James Hamblin scoring one of his two goals in Saturday's 5-1 victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings (Photo courtesy of Randy Feere / Medicine Hat Tigers)

By Scott Roblin

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Hamblin, Hopwo each pot a pair in Tigers return home

Nov 16, 2019 | 11:06 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Skating out to Thin Lizzy’s ‘The Boys Are Back in Town’ it was a welcomed return to the Canalta Centre for the Medicine Hat Tigers.

Playing their first home game in over a month, the Tigers’ first line trio of James Hamblin, Corson Hopwo, and Tyler Preziuso picked apart the Edmonton Oil Kings with a combined seven points in a 5-1 victory Saturday.

“I think being away that long builds some anticipation for this game,” said assistant coach Ryan Smith. “It happened to be against a division rival, a top team in the league, so all that adds up to excitement for the game. Coming off [Friday’s] win, the guys were pretty pumped to get home and show their stuff.”

Tigers goaltender Mads Søgaard was under siege to begin Saturday’s contest facing 16 shots against over the opening 20 minutes, but the Danish giant stood tall to keep it scoreless for Medicine Hat.

Early energy in the building was kept at bay by Oil Kings netminder Todd Scott as well, stopping a series of point blank shots midway through the first.

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Hamblin was finally able to break the seal with 38 seconds left before the first intermission buzzer. Splitting the defence off a pass from Preziuso, the Tigers captain went top shelf on the breakaway to put Medicine Hat up by one at the break.

“All the credit to them, they’re playing really well right now,” said Hamblin. “It’s not just me putting it in, they’re doing a great job. We’re just outworking guys, outworking other lines and I think that’s key for us.”

Hopwo was quick to make it a 2-0 game for Medicine Hat scoring just 21 seconds into the second period off a laser beam of a wrist shot in the slot.

That was followed up less than a minute later by Hamblin’s second of the evening, pouncing on a pass cross-crease from Preziuso for his third point of the game as well.

Over his last five games, the reigning WHL Player of the Week has been running at a remarkable clip of 12 points over that span and coaches like Smith are taking notice.

“You get a comfortable feeling when those guys are playing and clicking,” said Smith. “Jim is establishing himself as one of the top players in this league.”

Medicine Hat’s top line strengthened their grip on the Oil Kings minutes later with Hopwo netting a beauty on a breakaway to give the Tigers a four-goal cushion.

“It’s nice to see Hops get in on the scoresheet and really nice goals as well,” said Smith. “Those weren’t easy goals. He picked up the puck in the slot and buried it, got a breakaway and made a heck of a move.”

After weathering a tough first period, Hopwo said it was perfect timing seeing the offence come alive in the second.

“We just came out strong there and got lucky for sure,” said Hopwo. “Thankfully a couple goals went in and made the game much easier.”

The Oil Kings finally stopped the bleeding 7:35 into the second with a Carter Souch power play marker beating Søgaard blocker side for Edmonton’s first goal of the game.

Fresh off his appearance at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, Cole Sillinger provided the Tigers with a key insurance goal midway through the third to fully put the game out of reach.

Søgaard weathered a busy first period and ended his night with just one goal allowed on 31 shots against.

“Let’s call a spade a spade, the start of the game Mads Søgaard is our best player by far,” said Smith. “When you have that kind of goaltending it gives you a chance.”

The 14-6-1-0 Tigers have now won four of their last five games and have moved into a tie for second place in the Central Division alongside the Lethbridge Hurricanes with 29 points.

A divisional race that sees the Tigers, Hurricanes, and Oil Kings separated by just one point.

“You know how much each game matters,” said Hamblin. “So, I think we just have to go in with that mindset. We can’t look at it too much, but we do have to know it matters a lot.”

Medicine Hat continues a four-game stand at the Canalta Centre on Tuesday night with the Brandon Wheat Kings coming to town at 7:00 pm.

Lockner Watch

File Photo

Just as the Tigers welcomed back one of their assistant captains back in Ryan Chyzowski from the CHL Canada/Russia Series, another was absent from the lineup on Saturday.

Forward Bryan Lockner was listed as a scratch before puck drop, missing the return to the Canalta Centre after getting ‘knicked up’ in Friday’s 4-3 shootout victory over the Red Deer Rebels.

Sitting with five goals and 11 points through 20 games with the Tigers so far, Lockner’s absence was a precautionary measure according to Smith.

“With a game on Tuesday and another two next weekend you got to be careful you don’t rush guys back in,” he said. “When Locks is ready to go, we’ll welcome him back as well.”

Lockner will be re-evaluated by the team on Sunday and is questionable to dress against the Wheat Kings on Tuesday night.