Photo Credit: whl.ca

By Aidan Boelsgaard

Tigers victorious in the shootout

Nov 26, 2022 | 9:57 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Medicine Hat Tigers got their first extra time win of the season over the Red Deer Rebels, 3-2 in the shootout.

The scoring was opened up in the first period by the Rebels, on the powerplay. It was Talon Brigley who found the back of the net to put his team up 1-0, 6:03 into the period.

Special teams would be the staple of the frame, as the Tigers would find a powerplay goal of their own to tie the game 1-1. It was a shot from Brendan Lee that Tyler Mackenzie was able to put home for his 9th of the year.

The score would remain tied until 2:26 of the middle frame when Red Deer forward Kai Uchacz got on the breakaway shorthanded, and found the back of the net.

2-1 is where the game stood headed into the third period, and it was the Tigers who needed to find the equalizer.

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The clock would melt down to less than 5 minutes to go, when the man with the hot hand Lee would barry his 8th goal in 6 games to tie the game 2-2. Andrew Basha would get an assist on that goal, giving both himself and Lee 2 points in the game.

Overtime would be needed in this contest, where coming in Medicine Hat had an 0-5 record when the game came to sudden death.

The extra frame was not able to find a winner, so the teams would head to a shootout to decide the game.

First shooter went to the Tigers, and it was Lee who was called upon. He would skate slowly down the right wing, and make a slick backhand to forehand move giving him an open net that he easily put the puck into.

The Rebels first shooter Dwayne Jean Jr. was not able to convert in his chance, being stopped by Tigers goaltender Beckett Langkow.

In the second round of the shootout the Tabbies would call upon team leader in points, Andrew Basha. He would take a similar route to Lee, and successfully get his shot past Rebels Goaltender Kyle Kelsey.

The goal would put the pressure on the next Red Deer shooter Uchacz, who had one goal during regulation. On his chance he managed to back Langkow into his own net, sneaking the puck between the goaltenders legs to keep his team alive.

In the third round of the shootout it was Tigers forward Oasiz Wiesblatt who was given the opportunity to win it for his team. On his attempt he switched directions multiple times while skating down the ice, and snapped the puck passed Kelsey to win it for Medicine Hat 3-2.

Third star of the game would go to Rebels goaltender Kelsey, who stopped 40 of the 42 shots he faced in regulation.

Second star went to Tigers forward Tyler Mackenzie, who scored the opening goal for his squad.

The first star honour went to Rebels forward Uchacz, who scored the shorthanded goal in the second period.

Although those go down as the official three stars with the Tigers being in Red Deer. Honourable mentions should go out to Lee who had two points, Basha who had two as well, and Langkow who was strong in the shootout and stopped 29 of the 31 shots he faced in regulation.

Medicine Hat will be back at home Saturday night to take on the Calgary Hitmen from Co-Op Place.

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