WHL Payoff Game 3, April 1, 2025. Swift Current Broncos vs Medicine Hat Tigers at the InnovationPLex in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada (Photo by Ed Fonger Photography)

By Will Bryant

Sports

Medicine Hat Tigers lose Game 3 nail-biter 5-4 to Swift Current

Apr 2, 2025 | 12:55 AM

The Medicine Hat Tigers comeback attempt fell short Tuesday night as the Swift Current Broncos escaped with a 5-4 win, recording their first win of the series.

The Tigers opened the scoring nine minutes in when Bryce Pickford snapped a shot past the short-side shoulder of Broncos goaltender Reid Dyck to get the Cats ahead 1-0.

That lead would be short-lived.

Fifty seconds later, Broncos forward Trae Wilke responded, snapping a shot glove-side on Tigers netminder Harrison Meneghin to square the game at one.

Carlin Dezainde gave the Broncos their first lead of the series four minutes later, with a near-identical shot past the glove hand of Meneghin to make it 2-1.

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In the dying seconds of the opening frame, Jonas Woo made a beautiful deke to the Broncos’ goal, but Dyck came across to make a spectacular save to keep Swift Current ahead entering the intermission.

Five minutes into the second, the Tigers would tie things back up.

Josh Van Mulligen ripped a wrist shot off the crossbar and in for his first of the postseason, squaring the game at two.

Carlin Dezainde would add his second of the night two minutes later when he deflected a bouncing puck past Meneghin to restore the Bronco lead.

Dezainde would complete the hat-trick just over a minute later on the powerplay when he deflected a point shot past Meneghin to get Swift Current ahead by two for the first time in the series.

That would also spell the end to the night for Harrison Meneghin, who was pulled after allowing four goals on 11 shots.

Jordan Switzer came in to relieve Meneghin, making his first career post-season appearance.

Rejuvenated by the pulling of Meneghin, the Tigers got back within a goal four minutes later.

Hunter St. Martin busted in the Broncos’ zone short-handed and dragged a shot five-hole on Dyck to get the Tigers back within one.

The game remained 4-3 through forty minutes, despite a persistent Tigers forecheck that generated several high-quality chances.

Medicine Hat continued to press in the third and tied the game at four nine minutes in.

Oasiz Wiesblatt one-timed the puck past Dyck for his sixth goal of the season and third point of the night.

Despite the Tigers’ constant pressure, the Broncos forced a turnover in the Tigers’ zone with under four minutes to go and sprung Connor Dale on a breakaway.

Dale cut to the backhand and slid the puck by Switzer to get the Broncos back in front with 3:50 remaining.

Medicine Hat pressed and had the Broncos on their heels but ultimately ran out of time, and the Broncos came away with a 5-4 victory.

Game 4 goes tomorrow at 7:00 pm where the Medicine Hat Tigers will aim to take a 3-1 series lead home to Medicine Hat.