TIGERS DOWN RAIDERS FOR 8TH STRAIGHT WIN
Prince Albert, SK — On Saskatchewan Rush night for the Prince Albert Raiders the Tigers were looking to extend their winning streak to 8 games, their longest such streak since the 2010-11 season where they also won 8 games. Prince Albert was looking to snap their 6 game losing streak against the red hot Tigers. 16 year old Duncan McGovern got the start for the Tabbies, his first since November 4th and just his 4th game on the season, giving starter Nick Schneider a much needed day off. Medicine Hat stayed hot offensively and capitalized on their chances with the lowly Raiders falling behind early.
In the opening frame the Tigers controlled the play despite the scoreless draw. Medicine Hat kept the Raiders to the outside, limiting the chances Prince Albert had, a theme that continued all night long. Persistence paid off midway through the frame as John Dahlstrom picked up a puck on the half wall and drove around a Raiders defender towards the net. Matt Bradley followed up the play and banged home the rebound for his 14th on the year giving the Tigers the early lead. The period would close with Kristians Rubins called for interference meaning Medicine Hat would be shorthanded to start the second.
Mark Rassell and James Hamblin have been a dynamic duo on the penalty kill. The pair started the frame shorthanded and got straight to work when David Quenneville spotted a streaking Rassell up the middle. A quick tape to tape pass and #27 was on a clear cut break. Rassell made his patented move and slipped one by Nicholas Sanders for his 15th of the year and WHL leading 5th shorthanded marker. Medicine Hat’s specialty teams clicked, this time on the man advantage. Steven Owre was recipient of a great cross ice pass from Max Gerlach setting up the overager for just his 6th of the season and a 3-0 lead. It looked like the Raiders were down and out but rookie Cole Fonstad found the back of the net for his 4th of the year to break McGovern’s shut out bid.
The kid line would also get in on the action with Tyler Preziuso springing Gary Haden on a breakaway midway through the second period. Haden, with one goal on the year made no mistake shelving a wrist shot past Sanders to make it 4-0. Zach Fischer proved to everyone that his hands are not just for fighting as on the power play received a pass from Quenneville and tucked home a back hand top shelf and under the bar to increase the lead to 5-1. Medicine Hat wasn’t done in the frame with Gerlach also going top shelf as he stripped the Raiders of the puck and with a quick head fake got Ian Scott, the Raiders new goaltender after Sanders was pulled, going to far to his left to swell the lead to 6-1 heading into the intermission.
With the game all but wrapped up the Tigers played more defensively but also tried a few plays along the way making it more of the learning period than a time to run the score up. Medicine Hat still got their chances and James Hamblin was benefactor of those chances when he buried his 7th of the year giving the Tabbies a controlling 7-1 lead and ultimately controlling the remainder of the game. McGovern was strong in net when he had to be, making the stops necessary for the guys in front of him to be confident and play well. Medicine Hat would get outshot in the period 10-8 by the Raiders but ultimately picked up their 8th straight win and 12th victory on the road this season.
TIGERS STAT LINES:
- Clayton Kirichenko – 1A
- Matt Bradley – 1G, 1A
- Zach Fischer – 1G
- James Hamblin – 1G
- Steven Owre – 1G
- John Dahlstrom – 1G
- Max Gerlach – 1G, 2A
- Gary Haden – 1G
- David Quenneville – 2A
- Tyler Preziuso – 1A
- Mark Rassell – 1G
THREE STARS OF THE GAME:
- Mark Rassell – MH – 1G, SH
- David Quenneville – MH – 2A
- Max Gerlach – MH – 1G, 2A
Medicine Hat will conclude their 4 game road trip Saturday night as they take on the Saskatoon Blades looking for 9 straight victories, puck drop is 6pm Medicine Hat time. After the road trip the Tigers will be back home Tuesday night to have a rematch with the Raiders at the Canalta Centre.
