Tigers even series in OT thriller
Dahlstrom nets OT winner on dominant night for Tigers, tying series
LETHBRIDGE The Medicine Hat Tigers finally got a chance to showcase their reputation as the WHL’s comeback kids on Wednesday night at the Enmax Centre.
Chad Butcher and Max Gerlach combined to erase an early two-goal deficit before John Dahlstrom pulled the rug out in overtime to seal a 3-2 victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes and even the Eastern Conference semifinals at two games apiece.
“It was an unbelievable feeling,” said Dahlstrom of the overtime winner. “I thought we had a pretty good start, so it was hard for us. But we kept to our game plan and we were able to finish it off.”
The Tabbies got everything they wanted out of their start, except the opening goal. After shelling Hurricanes goaltender Stuart Skinner with an 11-1 shot total in the early going, Lethbridge’s Giorgio Estephan stole away the spotlight with his fifth goal of the series past Michael Bullion.
While Medicine Hat immediately continued overwhelming the Hurricanes with some sustained pressure in the offensive zone, any momentum gained was immediately halted when Egor Babenko beat Bullion on Lethbridge’s sixth shot of the game — a floater on the glove side.
“I kind of hit a bump in the ice, tripped and landed on my stick. I couldn’t move at all,” Bullion said of the goal. “There’s nothing more painful than watching the puck go into your net when you know that you can stop it, but you just can’t move well.”
Despite out-shooting Lethbridge 17-7 through the frame, Medicine Hat entered an intermission in a deficit for the first time in the post-season. But Babenko’s marker was the last one Bullion would let past him on the evening, and the Tigers rallied back into the fray.
“After that second one he really shut the door with some big-time saves,” said Clouston. “A couple in the third and an unbelievable one that he batted out of the air in overtime.”
The second period featured much of the same, with Medicine Hat occupying the Lethbridge end and filtering a high number of shots on Skinner — but this time the Tigers found a way through.
“Medicine Hat outworked us. We really had a chance because Skinner played great in goal,” said Hurricanes head coach Brent Kisio. “We were lucky to get out of the first period with a couple-goal lead, we didn’t deserve that. We didn’t have a great second period but Stuart kept playing well and gave us a chance.”
After nearly 38 minutes of unrelenting pressure, a lucky bounce gave Medicine Hat the opening they needed. Chad Butcher was standing at the top of the crease when a loose puck came rolling onto his stick, and the Tigers overager made no mistake by depositing his third of the post-season into the open cage.
Staring down the looming threat of a 31 series deficit, the Tigers dug deep and responded with one of their strongest periods of the playoffs.
“It took a while. I give the guys a lot of credit for staying with it, they continued to apply pressure, compete hard and eventually it paid off,” said Clouston. “The guys were very aware of the situation. It’s playoff hockey and you don’t want to be down 3-1.”
Medicine Hat’s leaders were at their best, with Butcher and Steven Owre both generating chances before drawing a pair of penalties to push the Tigers to a pivotal 5-on-3. With just one second remaining in the man advantage, Gerlach silenced the crowd with his second of the post-season and set the stage for Dahlstrom’s overtime magic.
“We just stuck with it and kept shooting the puck. Eventually we got one past him,” said Tigers defenceman Dylan MacPherson, who provided a physical presence for Medicine Hat all night. “I just try to get my bumps where I can and separate the man from the puck. Keep it simple.”
Bullion finished with 28 saves on the net to lead his team back into the win column, and the series, while Skinner closed out his evening with 56 stops for Lethbridge.
The series shifts back to the Gas City for Game 5, Friday at 7:30 p.m.