Tigers snuff out Lethbridge’s 15-game point streak
The Medicine Hat Tigers put an end to the path of destruction left by the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Saturday night at the Canalta Centre, shutting down their 15-game point streak with a decisive 5-0 victory.
James Hamblin took the proverbial wind out of Lethbridge’s sails with a shorthanded insurance marker in the second period and goaltender Michael Bullion did the rest to clinch the highly important divisional matchup with their fourth win in a row while stretching their Central Division lead to eight points.
“Hopefully this raises the bar a little bit, sets the standard and creates some belief in what we’re capable of when we play as hard and together as we did tonight,” said Tigers head coach and general manager Shaun Clouston. “I thought this was arguably our best game of the season.”
The Hurricanes entered the Canalta Centre riding a ninegame winning streak and a 130-1-1 record over their last 15 games, but the Tabbies silenced their Highway 3 rivals with their first shutout as a team this season, and the first of Bullion’s career.
Tigers captain Clayton Kirichenko put his team in front with their first shot of the evening after ’Canes forward Zane Franklin was booked for a high hit on Zach Fischer. The 20year-old blueliner pinched in from the point and fired home a loose puck for his 10th goal and 50th point of the season.
Hamblin then struck for his third shorthanded goal of the season with Kirichenko in the box for hooking. The 17-yearold centre snuck past the defence and finished off a feed through traffic from Jordan Henderson to give the Tabbies some added breathing room.
“We knew they were only a few points behind us and it’s a divisional rivalry so we came out really strong,” said Henderson. “We were all well prepared coming into this game.”
Medicine Hat put its depth on display later in the frame when their fourth line managed to hem the Hurricanes into their own end before Ryan Jevne finished off the dominant shift with his ninth of the season.
Taking down the hottest team in the WHL didn’t come without a serious defensive effort either. The Tigers limited the ’Canes to just four shots in the opening frame and 19 over 60 minutes, and Bullion turned aside every last one to stretch his record in orange and black to 9-2-0-0 with his first career shutout.
“I think it started with our forecheck, so kudos to our forwards. That was our game plan,” said Kirichenko. “I think sticking to our systems really paid off for us.”
Zach Fischer and Mason Shaw added third-period markers to chase Stuart Skinner from the net in favour of call-up affiliate Adam Swan. Skinner turned aside 29 of 34 pucks, while Swan stopped four in relief.
The victory lifts the Tigers to 40-16-1-0 on the season and 20-4-0-0 against Central Division opponents, while Lethbridge stumbled to 33-164-3 with their first regulation loss since Jan. 4.
The Tigers are back in action Wednesday when they host the Victoria Royals (3121-4-0) at 7 p.m.