Tigers come all the way back to take down Wheat Kings

The Medicine Hat Tigers came all the way back on Saturday at Westman Place.

Ryan Jevne scored his first goal in 12 games 62 seconds into overtime to shake off an early two-goal deficit and cement a 4-3 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings — putting the Tigers at 2-1-0-0 on their four-game East Division road trip

Stelio Mattheos broke the early stalemate with six minutes left in the first period. The 18-year-old centre took a pass from Luka Burzan in the circle and beat Tigers goaltender Michael Bullion on the short side for his 30th goal of the season.

Ty Lewis gave the Wheaties some breathing room entering the final minute of the first. The hometown Brandon product jumped on a loose puck in the paint and chipped it past Bullion to leave the Tigers in a 2-0 hole after 20 minutes despite outshooting the Wheat Kings 12-9 in the frame.

Tigers captain Mark Rassell mustered a response a few minutes in to the second period. The overage winger battled his way to the net and beat Wheaties goaltender Logan Thompson on the backhand to cut Brandon’s lead in half. Kristians Rubins picked up an assist on the marker to stretch his point streak to eight games with one goal and eight assists in the span.

David Quenneville knotted the game up early in the third period when he stepped into a one-timer off the draw and ripped the puck past Thompson for his 19th of the year. Rookie defenceman Trevor Longo picked up his first career point with an assist on the goal.

While Wheat Kings forward Connor Gutenberg reestablished the narrow lead just over a minute later by walking into the slot and firing a shot past Bullion, Tigers centre Gary Haden responded in kind a few minutes later.

The 18-year-old Airdrie product jammed home a rebound to set the stage for overtime just a few minutes after taking a heavy hit into the end boards and slowly leaving the ice.

Bullion stopped 22 shots in the victory to lift Medicine Hat to 24-17-3-0 before Sunday’s contest.