Tigers fall behind early, lose big on road to Swift Current

An early deficit cost the Medicine Hat Tigers Friday night in Swift Current.

The Tabbies fell behind 2-1 in the first period to Swift and could not comeback as they eventually lost 7-2 to the Broncos.

Tigers netminder Garin Bjorklund turned aside 22 of the 27 shots he faced as Medicine Hat picked up their 31st loss of the year, giving them a record of 9-31-3-1.

Medicine Hat came into Friday night’s road contest on the heels of a 4-1 loss Wednesday night to the Brandon Wheat Kings. Forward Noah Danielson suffered a lower-body injury in that loss and was unavailable against the Broncos.

Swift Current’s Connor Hvidston got the offence started 1:13 into the game with an unassisted marker.

Broncos forward Mathew Ward followed up with his first goal of the game, on the man advantage a little over 10 minutes later to give the home team a 2-0 lead.

The Tigers, not wanting to let the game get out of hand, followed suit four minutes later when Teague Patton scored his 10th goal of the season to bring the orange and black within one. Oasiz Wiesblatt picked up the assist on Patton’s goal.

The first period came to a close with both teams having a slow start in the shot category, Swift Current led the frame 9-8 in shots after 20 minutes.

Friday night’s contest marked a special opportunity for the Tigers, who faced off against their former teammate, defenceman Eric Van Impe. The 20-year-old was traded Oct. 7 by the Tigers, who had one too many overage players, to Seattle. He was then moved on Dec. 27 to Swift Current as the Thunderbirds had to clear an overage spot after acquiring Lukas Svejkovsky from Medicine Hat.

Swift Current jumped out first for the second time in the game, as Raphael Pelletier scored his 13th of the season on a power play to restore the Brocnos’ two-goal lead.

As the second period was coming to a close, Tigers d-man Bogdans Hodass fired home his fourth goal of the season to bring Medicine Hat within one after 40 minutes. Owen MacNeil and Pasha Bocharov picked up the helpers on the Latvian defender’s goal — the last offence the Tigers could muster in the game.

The Broncos took over in the third, scoring four goals in the final 20 minutes to further cement their victory.

Hvidston scored his second of the game 5:02 into the period and Ward completed his hat trick with two goals in a matter of six minutes. The 18-year-old has torched the Tigers this season in their five contests, picking up six goals and six assists for 12 points.

Karson King capped off the offensive onslaught for Swift Current with his second goal of the season with 3:15 left in the game.

Broncos netminder Reid Dyck was perfect in the third period, as he picked up his fourth win of the season by turning aside 22 of the 24 shots he faced. The victory gives Swift Current 18 on the season as they are narrowly holding onto the last Eastern Conference wild card position.

The Tigers have little time to lick their wounds, as they have two more contests in the next three days. Saturday night Corson Hopwo makes his return to the Gas City for the first time since being acquired by the Lethbridge Hurricanes, that games gets underway at 7 p.m. at Co-op place. The Tigers then host the Prince Albert Raiders Monday for a Family Day matinee that starts at 2 p.m.