By Scott Roblin

Rassell ties game late, Tigers fall in overtime to Wheat Kings

Feb 24, 2018 | 10:13 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Another classic Medicine Hat Tigers comeback fell just short of victory on Saturday night, as the Tabbies fell in a 4-3 overtime decision against the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Returning home from a snowy road swing in Cranbrook, the Tigers arrived back in Medicine Hat after 7:00 am on Saturday thanks to whiteout conditions in southern British Columbia.

With Michael Bullion under the weather, Medicine Hat went to rookie backup Kaeden Lane to tend the pipes for his first career WHL start.

Wheat Kings star Stelio Mattheos played spoiler in the first period however, netting his 37th of the season past Lane to open the scoring 8:44 into the night.

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Brandon took the game’s first penalty with 2:44 remaining in the first period, getting booked for too many men on the ice.

It didn’t take long for the Tigers to strike back, scoring the game-tying marker 15 seconds into the power play off a wrist shot from Ryan Jevne to tie the game at 1-1.

Medicine Hat pressed hard in the second period outshooting the Wheaties by a 12-3 margin, but backup goalie Dylan Myskiw stood tall to keep it a 1-1 contest after 40 minutes.

Early in the third period, Cole Reinhardt tapped in his 14th of the year to retake the lead, before Evan Weinger converted short-handed with 8:41 left in regulation to extend the Wheat Kings’ lead to 3-1.

Continuing to pour on shots in the third period, the Tigers finally gained some momentum with 4:58 left after David Quenneville ripped a shot to bring Medicine Hat within one.

Pulling Lane for the extra attacker, ‘captain clutch’ Mark Rassell came through with a redirected puck past Myskiw for his 100th career goal to tie the game at 3-3.

Medicine Hat thought they had won the game as time expired in the third period, with Ryan Chyzowski finding the back of the net as the buzzer sounded.

Officials on the ice reviewed the play and determined the puck did not cross the line before the clock hit zero, sending their fourth straight meeting of the season to overtime.

Brandon ended Medicine Hat’s hopes of a comeback victory early in the extra frame however, as Reinhardt potted his second of the night 1:06 into OT to give the visitors a 4-3 win.

Quenneville led the Tigers offensively with a three-point performance, while Rassell and Jevne also had multi-point outings.

Medicine Hat limited the Wheat Kings to only 14 shots on the night, as Lane was credited with his first WHL loss, making 10 saves in the crease.

Picking up at least a point in their last four games, the Tigers now hold a 31-24-8-0 record and are four points up on Lethbridge for first in the Central Division with nine games left before playoffs.

The Tigers will have to get up bright and early on Tuesday, as they’re in Edmonton to face off against the Oil Kings at the unusual time of 11:30 am.