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Nassen pots pair for Tigers in 5-4 victory over Hitmen

Nov 4, 2018 | 8:04 PM

 

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Calgary Hitmen were treated to the Linus Nassen show on Sunday night, as the Medicine Hat Tigers ended their weekend in style.

Nassen exploded for two goals and a helper in the back half of their home and home set with the Hitmen, helping the Tigers to a 5-4 victory to split the weekend series.

Rookie Corson Hopwo needed just over six minutes to pick up his first career WHL goal, beating Jack McNaughton with one hand on the stick for the unassisted marker to put the Tigers ahead 1-0.

That lead held for just 15 seconds however, as Calgary responded with a Cael Zimmerman goal to knot the game at 1-1 less than seven minutes into the contest.

Medicine Hat found their scoring touch again late in the first period, with Josh Williams and Hayden Ostir making an impact for the home side to give the Tigers a 3-1 lead at the intermission.

Calgary started to claw their way back 6:16 into the second period though, getting their second goal of the night from Kaden Elder when Medicine Hat failed to clear the slot of a loose puck.

Nassen showed off his penchant for jumping up in the rush with 5:17 left in the period, charging towards the goal and receiving a perfectly placed pass from Ryan Jevne to restore the Tigers two-goal advantage.

With the Tigers on the power play less than three minutes later, Nassen ripped a shot low off the ice from the point that fooled McNaughton off the post to make it a 5-2 game.

But just like in the first period, Calgary was quick to answer back with a beautiful marker from Luke Coleman to cut the deficit to a pair.

It stayed a 5-3 game for most of the third period, with Calgary pulling McNaughton with over two minutes left to try and get some offensive pressure.

That move paid off, as Elder received a pass from Jake Kryski and sniped his second of the night with 2:05 left to pull Calgary to within a goal.

In the final seconds a wild scramble left fans on the edge of their seats, but Hollett shut the door to help the Tigers hang on for the 5-4 win.

Jordan Hollett was a brick wall in the third period, stopping all 15 shots he faced over the final 20 minutes to help Medicine Hat to a 5-3 win.

Hollett picked up his fifth win of the season against the Hitmen with a stellar 36-save showing, while Jevne and Ostir joined Nassen with multi-point performances.

Moving back into the win column following Friday’s loss in Calgary, the 9-7-0-2 Tigers remain third in the Central Division with 20 points on the year.

Medicine Hat is now off until Friday night, when the Saskatoon Blades and former Tigers Gary Haden and Max Gerlach pay a visit to the Canalta Centre at 7:30 pm.