Bullion backs Tigers to victory in Cranbrook

Michael Bullion stole the show on Sunday at Western Financial Place.

The Medicine Hat Tigers netminder turned aside 38 shots to lock up a 4-3 win over the Kootenay Ice and stretch his team’s Central Division lead to six points with his sixth consecutive victory between the pipes.

The well-rested Ice quickly seized control of the momentum, but Bullion refused to give them an early edge. Despite taking the crease for the second time in less than 24 hours — a span that included a 500-kilometre bus trip from Medicine Hat to Cranbrook — Bullion held his Tabbies in a scoreless contest with 15 saves through the first, including a handful of key stops on goalmouth scrambles.

While the Tigers killed off four consecutive penalties to keep the game scoreless through the halfway point of the game, Kootenay’s Colton Kroeker finally broke the stalemate on a backhand breakaway goal with seven minutes left in the second period.

But Medicine Hat found their way back into the contest when Kootenay’s Cameron Hausinger was nabbed for slashing just 15 seconds after Kroeker’s marker. Elijah Brown parked himself in front of Ice goaltender Duncan McGovern and redirected a feed from Hayden Ostir into the top corner to start up an offensive onslaught for the Tigers.

Ryan Jevne appeared to put his team out in front when he tipped a point shot past McGovern less than a minute later. The goal was immediately waved off due to a high stick and the call on the ice was upheld by video review — but Ryan Chyzowski quickly stepped up to make sure it didn’t matter.

The 17-year-old Kamloops product finished off a drive to the net by chipping a rebound past McGovern to turn the tables on the Ice, then Josh Williams tacked on with a late power play goal to give the Tigers some insurance after 40 minutes.

Kootenay mounted a strong pushback effort in the third and Bobby Russell eventually broke through shorthanded to ignite the crowd of 2,771 and set up a wild finale with less than four minutes left.

First James Hamblin returned the favour less than two minutes later to regain Medicine Hat's two-goal lead with Jevne in the box for boarding, then Jonathan Smart converted on the Kootenay power play to keep the pressure on — but Bullion kept the paddle down and the Tigers escaped to their sixth win in the past seven games.

McGovern took the loss on 24 saves, dropping the Ice to 25-38-3-1. Medicine Hat improved to 34-34-8-0 with the win. The Lethbridge Hurricanes now sit six points back of the Tigers for the top of the Central Division with two games in hand.

The Tigers return to the Canalta Centre Tuesday to host the Regina Pats at 7 p.m.