Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman Kurtis Smythe (23) defending the blue-line from Logan Wormald of the Lethbridge Hurricanes (18). (Jacob Varcoe photo)

By Jacob Varcoe

Tigers best Hurricanes in lengthy shootout

Feb 12, 2023 | 11:46 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Medicine Hat Tigers earned a 3-2 shootout victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Saturday at Co-op Place.

Shane Smith scored the shootout winner in the seventh round, when he fired a wrist shot past Lethbridge goaltender Harrison Meneghin in front of 2,580 fans. Beckett Langkow turned aside seven consecutive attempts from the Hurricanes on the way to victory.

With the win, Medicine Hat improves to 22-22-7-1, Lethbridge falls to 28-18-3-3. The Tigers remain in eighth in the Eastern Conference, occupying the final playoff spot, while the Hurricanes stay in fifth.

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Rhett Parsons opened the scoring less than a minute into the game with a shot from the point for his fourth goal of the year, giving the Tigers their first lead of the game. Brendan Lee scored his team-leading 21st of the season in the second period.

Lethbridge tied the game twice with a pair of power play goals in the seesaw battle between the Highway 3 rivals. First, it was Jett Jones in the middle stages of the first period, then it was Hurricanes captain Joe Arntsen in the second frame.

After Arntsen’s second period goal, the rivals played 31:53 of scoreless hockey all the way to a shootout.

The shootout went seven rounds before seeing it’s lone goal, which was scored by Shane Smith, who fired a wrist shot into the back of the net.

“That’s kind of my move, I think, just coming in on the left side and looking for a shot,” said Smith, post-game.

“I’m not a big dangler guy in the shootout, I just like to use my shot to my advantage.”

Beckett Langkow made 26 saves on 28 shots, also slamming the door shut on seven straight attempts from Lethbridge in the shootout.

“It’s a pretty good feeling after, pretty nerve-racking during,” said Langkow, after the win.

“I was happy that I could put up a good performance there in the shootout and I’m happy we got the win.”

With the victory, the Tigers wrap up their season series with the Hurricanes, earning three wins in the eight meetings between the Central Division rivals. Medicine Hat will be back in action on Saturday, when they host the Red Deer Rebels at Co-op Place. Lethbridge will take on the Calgary Hitmen on Wednesday at home.