Tigers split exhibition set with Hurricanes
The Medicine Hat Tigers exacted a bit of pre-season revenge on Saturday at the Taber Civic Centre.
After falling in overtime to the Lethbridge Hurricanes Friday at the Enmax Centre, the Tabbies bounced back with a 63 victory to set the stage for the season to come by splitting the two-game set in convincing fashion.
“We came back ready tonight and we got it,” said Tigers prospect Cole Sillinger, who scored twice for Medicine Hat in the victory. “It’s been a great experience so far. I’ve had great chemistry with both my sets of linemates.”
With only five returning regulars on Saturday’s roster — all of whom are entering their second Western Hockey League season — Tigers assistant coach Joe Frazer says he was impressed by his defence’s ability to control the flow of play and limit Lethbridge’s quality scoring chances.
“They were ready tonight. I thought the team game overall was real good,” said Frazer. “We had a really good week in practice. We introduced some concepts and structure and I think the young guys picked up on it.”
Jaxon Steele gave the Tigers an early edge by bookending the first period with a pair of markers. The 18-year-old centre opened the scoring just over two minutes into the game then doubled up entering the final minute of the first, with both goals coming off passes from winger Jalen Price.
Baxter Anderson kept things rolling for Medicine Hat with an early an early power play goal in the second period. While the Hurricanes struck back less than 30 seconds later when Noah Boyko beat Tigers goaltender Garin Bjorklund over the glove, the Hat netminder withstood a barrage of 14 other shots in the frame to maintain a two-goal lead through 40 minutes.
Tempers boiled over near the end of the second when Tigers winger Henrik Rybinski ran into Hurricanes centre Dylan Cozens in a neutral ice knee-on-knee collision. Cozens immediately took exception to the hit and had to be held back by officials. Rybinski was handed a kneeing minor on the play, while Cozens and teammate Calen Addison both received roughing penalties.
“Obviously I wasn’t too happy with it, but whatever. There’s nothing we can do about it now, it’s over,” said Cozens. “Obviously the rivalry is still strong. We play these guys a lot this year so we expect the games to be super intense throughout the whole season. We know we can be better than that though, that was embarrassing on our part.”
While Medicine Hat was unable to cash in on the resulting power play, the Hurricanes responded with a parade to the penalty box and Sillinger converted on an extended two-man advantage.
The 11th overall 2018 bantam draft pick crashed the net and beat Schmid on a feed from Josh Williams for his second marker in as many pre-season games.
While the Hurricanes responded with third-period tallies from Ty Prefontaine and Taylor Ross, Williams and Sillinger immediately notched responses to both goals and the Tigers skated away to victory.
“We had to keep our feet moving and the young guys did that. I think Rybinski drew about five or six penalties (in the third),” said Frazer. “We’re not going to go around like Broad Street Bullies. We’ve got to make sure we’re using our speed and the young guys did a great job of staying disciplined.”
Bjorklund stopped 21 shots to collect the win in his first appearance of the pre-season, while Schmid took the loss on 24 saves.
The Tigers (1-0-1-0) continue their preseason campaign Friday in Moose Jaw against the Warriors.