By Scott Roblin

Cubs fall in wild affair Saturday to Flyers, 6-5 in overtime

Dec 9, 2018 | 10:04 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Medicine Hat Travelodge Cubs kept pace with the High River Flyers on Saturday night, but weren’t able to put the final nail in the coffin in a 6-5 overtime loss.

Medicine Hat rallied from a pair of deficits in the third period to force overtime, but Flyers forward Michael McTighe was able to find the game winner in the extra frame at the Kinplex.

Starting off on the right foot, Medicine Hat took a 1-0 lead just over seven minutes into the first period from recently named HJHL all-star Noah Irvine.

The Cubs added to their early lead six minutes later, getting an unassisted marker from Jack Hilworth for his first goal in 10 games to double the score to 2-0.

High River cut into that Cubs lead with 3:18 left in the first through, as Joshua Fleck ripped a shot past Brett Vanderveer to make it a 2-1 game at the intermission.

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Midway through the second frame the Flyers erased the deficit, getting the tying goal 9:09 into the period from Brennan McPherson.

Just over two minutes later however, the Cubs struck on the power play from Cooper Hilworth for his 16th goal of the season to put Medicine Hat back into the lead 3-2.

Special teams continued to be the theme of Saturday’s contest, with the Flyers going back on the man advantage near the tail end of the period and scoring from Josh Russo to knot the score at 3-3 after 40 minutes.

That signalled the end of Vanderveer’s night, who was taken out of the game in favour of Riley Tucker after allowing three goals on 17 shots.

High River struck quickly in the third period as well, as Jharin Bantugan beat Tucker with his fifth goal of the campaign to give the Flyers their first lead of the night 4-3.

Irvine added his second of the night with 9:04 left in regulation to bring the score back to even, but two minutes later it was McTighe restoring High River’s lead with 7:52 left in the period.

As the score clock approached six minutes remaining, Medicine Hat tied up the score once again with Copper Hilworth’s second power play marker of the night to force overtime.

High River would come out on top however with McTighe scoring his second goal of the night, beating Tucker in the extra frame to secure a 6-5 win for the Flyers.

Tucker allowed three goals on 26 shots in relief of Vanderveer, while Max Johnston earned the victory in the Flyers crease with a superb 50-save effort.

Irvine and Cooper Hilworth both had multi-goal games, with Mackenzie Fritzler and Desmond Crawford both adding a pair of assists to their stats.

Picking up a point, the Cubs now hold an 8-11-3 record and sit sixth in the Southern Division with 19 points.

They’ll have a chance to wipe the slate clean on Sunday however, as Medicine Hat plays host to the Blackfalds Wranglers at the Kinplex at 2:15 pm.