Photo by Brandi Pollock
Medicine Hat, AB (CKLQ) – The Medicine Hat Tigers scored early and often on Friday night as they took a 1-0 series lead with a 7-2 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings.
Entering the game as the Central Division Champions, the Tigers took the lead on an early powerplay. Ryan Jevne scored after Logan Thompson was knocked out of position. Despite heavy argument from the Wheat Kings the goal would stand.
As that goal was being announced, the Tigers would add another as Cole Clayton fired a seeing-eye shot through a crowd and gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead midway through the first period.
The Tigers would add another powerplay goal before the period would end as Mark Rassell roofed a wrist shot over Logan Thompson to open up a 3-0 lead.
"The turning point was taking two penalties 200 feet from our own net," said Wheat Kings Head Coach David Anning. "Everything is magnified in playoffs and I think our mistakes tonight were costly ones, we had some poor execution which cost us."
Despite the score, the Wheat Kings stayed with it and had several opportunities in the latter half of the first. The team would finally convert when Luka Burzan beat Jordan Hollett for his first career WHL Playoff goal.
The Tigers would score three unanswered goals in the 2nd period, an even strength goal, a short-handed goal and a four-on-four goal to open up a 6-1 lead after 40 minutes. That would spell the end of the night for Logan Thompson, who stopped 12 shots on 18 Tiger attempts.
"It’s unfortunate Logan’s night started the way it did," Anning said of his goaltender. "It’s one of those things where we expect him to bounce back. It’s one game, its going to be a long series and we knew that coming in. We are going to have make sure we respond the right way and Logan will be one of those guys."
In the third, after the Tigers took a 7-1 lead the Wheat Kings would be handed a plethora of powerplay chances, including a pair of two-man advantages but couldn’t convert. Finally on their seventh powerplay, James Shearer fooled Hollett to give Brandon some positive vibes heading into a rare playoff day off.
Due to a comedy show at the arena, the Wheat Kings will have a rare Saturday off and will practice in Irvine, AB before game two on Sunday night, something Anning says is beneficial for his club.
"We will get on the ice, go through some looks and do some prep work and have the day to make sure we’re in the right frame of mind," added Anning. "We’re going to take advantage of the day off, and make sure we’re better on Sunday."
Brandon would outshoot the Tigers 34-25, including a third period where they lead 11-5. The Wheat Kings finished the night 1/7 on the powerplay while the Tigers scored twice on four opportunities.
Catch the game two broadcast on QCountry 91.5 at 7:00 MB Time, the pre-game show goes live at 6:30 MB time.
CROWE’S NOTES:
-The Wheat Kings scratched Jonny Hooker (Upper Body), Gunnar Wegleitner (Healthy), Ethan Kruger (Healthy) and Ty Ettinger (Healthy).
-Ben McCartney had a goal waved off at the 2:36 mark of the first period. He re-directed a Baron Thompson shot off the post and then off the back of the goaltender before it was swept off the goal line.
-Luke Burzan’s 1st period goal was his first career WHL Playoff goal.
-Attendance at the Canalta Centre was 3,050.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st PERIOD
M.H – Ryan Jevne (1) (White, Rubins) 10:32 PPG
M.H – Cole Clayton (1) (Gally, Rybinski) 10:53
M.H – Mark Rassell (1) (Ostir, Rubins) 13:56 PPG
BWK – Luka Burzan (1) (Reinhardt) 17:36
Shots: 12-8 Brandon
2nd PERIOD
M.H – Ryan Chyzowski (1) (Unassisted) 3:08 4on4
M.H – Gary Haden (1) (Rassell) 8:50 SHG
M.H – Bryan Lockner (1) (Brown) 11:35
Shots: 12-11 Medicine Hat
3rd PERIOD
M.H – Kristians Rubins (1) (Rassell, Lockner) 3:59
BWK – James Shearer (1) (Mattheos, Hartje) 18:34 PPG
Final Shots: 34-25 Brandon
