Photo courtesy of Randy Feere / Medicine Hat Tigers

By Scott Roblin

Two-Goal Night

Svejkovsky comes alive in return from injury, Tigers blank ‘Canes 3-0

Mar 26, 2021 | 10:42 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Lukas Svejkovsky’s absence from the Medicine Hat Tigers lineup was noticeable earlier this month, missing a pair of games with an upper-body injury.

Svejkovsky said he was feeling 100 percent earlier this week and proved it on Friday night, netting a pair of third period goals to lead the Tigers to a 3-0 shutout victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

Medicine Hat controlled play for much of their first meeting of the season versus the ‘Canes, reigniting the Highway 3 rivalry for the first time since January 18, 2020.

Despite some early penalty troubles, the Tigers struck first 3:41 into the opening period with Brett Kemp dishing a sweet saucer pass across to Corson Hopwo for his fifth goal of the season while shorthanded.

Hurricanes goaltender Carl Tetachuk stood on his head for the opening two periods, as that was the only goal he allowed through 40 minutes stopping 34 of 35 Tigers shots.

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The dam finally burst less than a minute into the third frame however, with Svejkovsky receiving a drop pass from Noah Danielson and sniping top shelf on Tetachuk in his return.

Tigers rookie Reid Andresen made a sizeable impact in his first WHL contest, with the 15 year old receiving significant ice time in the third period and setting up what would be the insurance marker.

With eight minutes to go in regulation, Andresen threw a shot on net which pin-balled around in the crease before Svejkovsky picked up the rebound for his second of the night to make it a 3-0 game.

Garin Bjorklund took the Tigers the rest of the way home, stopping all 22 shots he faced to earn his second career WHL shutout.

As for Tetachuk, he kept Lethbridge in for most of the game and ended his night with 44 saves despite being tagged with the loss.

Medicine Hat did not have a chance to work their top-ranked power play on Friday night, however went a perfect 3-for-3 on the penalty kill and scored shorthanded courtesy of Hopwo.

Friday’s win on home ice moved the Tigers record to 5-3-0 on the shortened season, pushing them past the Calgary Hitmen into second place in the Central Division.

The second chapter of the 2020-21’s Highway 3 rivalry will be written on Saturday night with the rematch in Lethbridge at 7:00, before the series wraps up Sunday back in Medicine Hat at 6:00 pm.