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Tigers facing elimination after Game 5 loss

Apr 14, 2017 | 11:21 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Medicine Hat Tigers are facing elimination after dropping a 5-4 decision in Game 5 of their second round series with the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Friday night.

Medicine Hat held most of the momentum early at the Canalta Centre, but Lethbridge’s Tyler Wong converted off a Tigers turnover 3:36 into the game to make it 1-0 for the away side.

That lead didn’t hold for long, as Max Gerlach cut from below the goal line in tight on Stuart Skinner to score his third of playoffs just over six minutes into the game.

Fast forward to the 8:32 mark of the period, as Lethbridge’s Ryan Bowen was sprung on a breakaway and went top shelf on the backhand to give the Hurricanes a 2-1 advantage.

Enjoying some four-on-four action with 7:16 left in the frame, the Tigers’ Brad Forrest fired a beautiful cross-ice pass to captain Clayton Kirichenko, who out waited Skinner to knot the game at 2-2.

Despite allowing two goals on the first two shots he faced, Medicine Hat’s Michael Bullion responded in a big way with a pair of incredible saves against Egor Babenko on the doorstep to keep it a tie game. 

Penalty trouble caught up to the Tigers with just over two minutes left in the period though, as Wong followed the bouncing puck in the crease to go backhand just seven seconds into the man advantage to put Lethbridge up 3-2 at the break.

A much better period defensively in the second for Medicine Hat, as Bullion locked things down between the pipes.

The Tigers had relentless pressure midway through the frame, but score remained 3-2 for the away side.

That was until a three-on-one opportunity for Medicine Hat with 6:00 left in the period, as Gerlach kept the puck and sniped below the crossbar for his second of the game and a 3-3 tie.

Lethbridge jumped on the home side early in the third period, as the Tigers struggled to clear the net front with Ryan Vandervlis posting his fifth of the post-season for a 4-3 Hurricanes lead.

The ‘Canes extended their lead to 5-3 with just over nine minutes remaining, as a Brennan Riddle wrist-shot from the point made its way through traffic beating Bullion.

But, Medicine Hat wouldn’t go away quietly as David Quenneville’s power play goal from the blueline with 5:26 left cut the deficit to 5-4.

A late game push by the Tigers wouldn’t be enough however, as they fell by a 5-4 final score at home.

Skinner was fantastic in the win for Lethbridge making 37 saves, while Bullion allowed five goals on 27 shots.

Game six of the series goes on Sunday night from Lethbridge which is a must win for the Tigers, puck drop at 6:00 pm.