Photo Credit: whl.ca

By Aidan Boelsgaard

Tigers pick up a point, but fall short in the shootout

Nov 12, 2022 | 9:44 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Medicine Hat Tigers battled back all game against the Moose Jaw Warriors, but fell short 5-4 in the shootout.

It would be the Warriors who would open up the scoring less than five minutes into the first frame. That goal was tipped home by Harper Lolacher, for his first goal in the WHL.

Moose Jaw would extend their lead at 9:21 of the period when Eric Alarie would net his 4th of the season. The Warriors would carry that 2-0 lead into the second frame.

Although not able to get on the board in the first, the Tigers wasted no time doing so in the second. Only 3:36 in Oasiz Wiesblatt would find the back of the net on a slick backhand move for his 8th of the season.

The Warriors would find their footing once again though, as they earned back their two goal lead on the 9th goal of the year from Atley Calvert. That goal was assisted by Maximus Wanner for his second point of the night, after assisting on the opening goal.

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Now down 3-1 Medicine Hat needed an answer, and they found it less than two minutes after the Moose Jaw goal. It was a loose puck in the crease that was banged home by Tyler Mackenzie for his 7th in 17 games played.

Young Forward Gavin McKenna would get an assist on that play for his first point since returning to the Tigers on Nov. 1.

Now only trailing by a single goal the Tabbies would continue to push, making the game all square at 3-3 just over two minutes after they got within one. The tying goal came off the stick of Wiesblatt for his 2nd goal of the night.

The score would remain the same until 11:07 of the final regulation frame, when Moose Jaw would get themselves back in the lead. Jagger Firkus was the man to put that goal away, for his 20th point in 15 games played.

Bogdans Hodass would answer back quickly for the Tigers tying it 4-4 to send his team into overtime for the 3rd time in their last 6 games.

The extra period would solve nothing, so the game was headed into the shootout. Hunter St. Martin, and Brendan Lee would both miss their chances for the Tabbies which allowed the second shooter for the Warriors, Brayden Yager to put on the pressure with a goal.

After he converted it was up to Andrew Basha to keep Medicine Hat alive in the shootout, and he would do just that with a slick wrist shot passed the blocker of Warriors goaltender Connor Ungar.

Moose Jaw still had one shooter left, that being Denton Mateychuk. With a chance to win the game for his squad Mateychuk would skate down on Tigers goaltender Beckett Langkow, and sneak the puck by his right pad to make it a 5-4 finish in favour of the Warriors.

Third star went to the Warriors goaltender, Ungar who stopped 34 of the 38 shots he faced in the contest.

The second star went to Tigers forward, Wiesblatt who had two goals on the night to bring his season point total to 13.

Mateychuk took the first star honours for Moose Jaw having gotten one assist in regulation, and scoring the game winner in the shootout.

This Loss marks the 7th in a row for the Tigers, leaving them 11th in the eastern conference through 17 games played.

Medicine Hat will be back in action Saturday evening from Moose Jaw to play the second half of their home and home with the Warriors.

You can hear all the action from that game live on Wild 94.5 with voice of the Tigers, Gino De Paoli.