By Scott Roblin

Tigers power play comes up short, drop home opener to Lethbridge

Sep 22, 2018 | 10:50 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Medicine Hat Tigers had plenty of opportunities on the power play on Saturday night, but weren’t able to light the lamp when it counted.

The Tigers failed to score on all eight of their power play chances in their home opener, dropping a 4-2 decision to the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

After the team’s pre-game introductions it didn’t take long for the crowd to rise to their feet, as Bryan Lockner and Jackson Shepard dropped the mitts just seconds after the opening face-off.

Things took a frightening turn midway through the period though, as Hurricanes forward Owen Blocker went hard into the boards in the Tigers zone.

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After laying motionless for close to 10 minutes on the ice, Blocker was taken off by five attendants on a stretcher and did not return.

Lethbridge found the opening goal just 40 seconds into the second period, with Keltie Jeri-Leon hopping on a loose rebound in the slot for his first of the season.

James Hamblin was able to fire up the crowd again near the midway mark of the period, dangling his way through the Hurricanes defence while shorthanded.

He followed that up by going backhand on Reece Klassen, scoring his fourth point in two games to knot the contest up at 1-1 for Medicine Hat.

The Hurricanes took back the lead with just under four minutes to play in the period, as Tigers goalie Jordan Hollett bit on a fake shot from Taylor Ross at the left side of the net.

Ross was able to walk around the back side of the net, completing the wraparound to make it a 2-1 Hurricanes lead.

Lethbridge extended their lead to 3-1 just over a minute later, as top NHL draft prospect Dylan Cozens was left alone in front of Hollett and made no mistake for his first goal of the WHL season.

Hungry to stop the bleeding however, the Tigers pulled themselves back within a goal just 12 seconds later as Gary Haden threw a pass cross-ice that was buried by Lockner.

Medicine Hat pressed with 10 shots in the final period, but Jake Elmer sealed the deal for the Hurricanes with a late empty net goal to secure Lethbridge’s first victory of the young WHL season.

Both teams put 29 shots on goal on Saturday, while Hollett made 26 saves in the loss.

According to Cozens, Blocker was alert and with his teammates in the Hurricanes dressing room following the game.

Falling to 1-1 on the season, the Tigers hit the road for Edmonton on Wednesday to kick off a three-game road swing against the Oil Kings at 7:00 pm.