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Late Warriors goal sinks Tigers in Moose Jaw

Dec 5, 2017 | 8:26 PM

 

MOOSE JAW, SK – The Medicine Hat Tigers were 24 seconds away from a third-straight overtime contest, but the Moose Jaw Warriors had other plans in a wild contest on Tuesday night.

The Warriors took their first lead of the game just over five minutes into the game, as Jayden Halbgewachs positioned himself in front of Michael Bullion to redirect a Josh Brook shot on the power play.

Medicine Hat was unable to hit pay dirt in the first period with the score 1-0 Warriors at the intermission and shots 10-10.

Early in the second, Tigers forward Henry Rybinski was tagged for hooking and sent Moose Jaw back to the power play.

Just 10 seconds into the man advantage, a give-and-go play found the blade of Justin Almeida for his 16th of the year and a 2-0 Warriors lead with 15:02 left in the second.

Less than two minutes later, Moose Jaw upped their lead to 3-0 after a shot banked off the end boards to Tanner Jeannot at the side of the net, who buried it past a sprawling Bullion.

Medicine Hat started the third period down by a trio, but cut into that lead with a wrist shot from Max Gerlach 30 seconds into the frame to make it a 3-1 score.

Hayden Ostir got in on the scoring for the Tigers, registering his sixth of the season a little less than five minutes later to pull Medicine Hat within a goal.

The Warriors got that goal back with their third power play marker of the evening from Noah Gregor, but Ostir responded with his second of the game with 12:31 left in regulation to make it a 4-3 game.

Medicine Hat finally tied up the game near the midway mark of the third, with Jaeger White scoring his second in two games to even up the score at 4-4.

A glorious five-on-three power play chance for the Tigers was squandered a few minutes later, as their special teams finished 0-for-5 on the night.

This game seemed destined for a fourth period, but Moose Jaw’s Brayden Burke was able to finish off a passing play with 24 left in regulation to hand the Warriors two points with a 5-4 win.

Medicine Hat piled on 26 shots in the third period in a comeback attempt, but Warriors goalie Brody Willms was up to the task with a 43-save performance.

Bullion meanwhile allowed five goals on 30 shots against and sees his record slip to 7-6-1 on the year.

The Tigers now hold an overall record of 16-11-1 on the year, while their lead in the Central Division has shrunk to six points over Lethbridge and Kootenay.

A four-game eastern road swing continues for Medicine Hat on Wednesday night, when they pay a visit to the Art Hauser Centre and the Prince Albert Raiders at 6:00 pm.