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By Scott Roblin

Struggles Continue

Oil Kings light up Tigers for eight goals, Tabbies fall in 13th straight

Dec 3, 2021 | 10:40 PM

EDMONTON, AB – Blowout losses are starting to pile up for the Medicine Hat Tigers, as their losing streak approaches an all-time franchise record.

On Friday night visiting the Edmonton Oil Kings, the Tabbies were torched by an 8-2 final score for their third consecutive loss by seven goals or more.

Oil Kings sniper Dylan Guenther netted a hat-trick in the third period, while John Szabo had his first multi-goal performance of his WHL career in the Edmonton win.

Medicine Hat came into Friday’s game once again missing two-thirds of their top line, as Corson Hopwo’s week-to-week injury was compounded by a banged up Noah Danielson who did not play.

Despite the jumbled up forward lines, the Tigers played one of their best opening periods in recent memory with just one goal by Szabo allowed over the first frame.

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Edmonton was able to capitalize in the second however with Brendan Kuny’s first of the season to double their lead to 2-0 less than four minutes in.

Brayden Boehm quickly cut into the deficit with a shorthanded beauty for the Tigers 7:53 into the second, stripping the puck in the defensive zone and sniping on a 3-on-1 rush to get Medicine Hat on the board.

All momentum halted for Medicine Hat less than three minutes later however, as Edmonton’s Jakub Demek converted on a Josh Williams rebound to restore the Oil Kings’ two-goal cushion.

Oil Kings defender Simon Kubicek made it a 4-1 lead at the tail end of the period, one-timing a shot from the point that was just able to sneak past Beckett Langkow for his eighth of the year.

Guenther kicked off the third period with back-to-back goals scored in less than three minutes, including one on the power play to give Edmonton a comfortable 6-1 lead.

Medicine Hat made good on a power play of their own with a Daniel Baker seeing-eye shot from the point to close the gap to 6-2, but Edmonton finished things off with goals from Szabo and Guenther before the buzzer sounded to bring Friday’s contest to a merciful conclusion.

Tigers rookie call up Andrew Basha recorded his first career WHL point with an assist on Baker’s third period goal, while newly acquired star Kaiden Guhle had two helpers in his Oil Kings debut.

Langkow made 37 saves in the loss for Medicine Hat, five more than Kolby Hay who secured the two points in the Edmonton net on Friday.

Medicine Hat’s losing streak now sits at 13 games, one away from the franchise record for consecutive losses set during the 1998 campaign.

The Tigers will host their annual Teddy Bear Toss game against the Brandon Wheat Kings on Saturday night at Co-Op Place with puck drop at 7;00 pm.

Fans are being asked to bring stuffed animals and/or winter gear inside bags, which will be thrown onto the ice following Medicine Hat’s first goal Saturday.