By Scott Roblin

Nassen nets winner, Hollett hurt in Tigers OT win over Royals

Dec 1, 2017 | 9:40 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – It took 26 games for Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman Linus Nassen to score his first career WHL goal, and it came at the perfect time on Friday night.

The Tigers welcomed the powerhouse Victoria Royals to the Canalta Centre on Friday, trying to get off their first three-game losing streak of the season.

Victoria found the scoresheet during four-on-four action just over six minutes into the game, as Chaz Reddekopp netted his fourth of the season to put the Royals ahead.

Just past the midway mark of the first, Victoria doubled their lead on just their fourth shot of the game thanks to a Tyler Soy marker with 7:46 left in the frame.

A little over two minutes later though, Gary Haden picked up the puck on a breakaway and beat Griffin Outhouse with 5:48 remaining in the first to cut the deficit to 2-1.

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Royals forward Igor Martynov made it a 3-1 contest late in the first, but not without some controversy.

Martynov beat Tigers netminder Jordan Hollett for the goal, but kneed Hollett in the head in the process of skating through the crease.

Officials confirmed the call on the ice making it a 3-1 game heading into the intermission, while Hollett skated to the dressing room on his own power.

Backup Michael Bullion came out to start the second period for the Tigers, as Hollett’s night was ended with three goals allowed on eight shots.

Aside from a handful of penalties, the second frame came and went without much fanfare as Medicine Hat trailed by a pair heading to the third.

Still down 3-1 with less than 10 minutes to go, captain Mark Rassell sniped his 25th goal of the season past Outhouse to close the gap to one with 9:28 remaining in regulation.

With 7:11 remaining in the third, Victoria’s Matthew Smith was sent to the penalty box for tripping, which put the Tigers on their seventh power play of the evening.

Medicine Hat finally converted on the man advantage with 6:12 remaining in the period, as specialist David Quenneville continue his strong season with his eighth of the year to tie the game at 3-3.

This game needed extra time, with Medicine Hat controlling the offensive flow early in the overtime period.

Just over one minute into OT, Nassen put it on net and scored his first of the year to send the Canalta Centre into a frenzy and giving the Tigers a huge 4-3 comeback victory.

Bullion stopped all 12 shots he faced in relief of Hollett to earn his seventh win of the season, while Medicine Hat peppered Outhouse with 41 shots on the evening.

Snapping their losing skid, the Tigers now hold a record of 15-10-0-0 on the year and remain undefeated in overtime.

The weekend home stand continues on Saturday night for the ‘Tabbies’ as they host the Brandon Wheat Kings for their annual ‘Teddy Bear Toss’ game.

Opening face-off at the Canalta Centre goes at 7:30 pm against Brandon.