Short staffed Tigers gut out 4-2 win over Broncos
Medicine Hat, AB – Hayden Harsanyi’s breakway goal at 11:10 would prove to be the winner as the Medicine Hat Tigers defeat the Swift Current Broncos with 15 skaters in the line-up by 4-2 margin Saturday night at Co-op Place.
It was busy first period for both the Tigers and Broncos as ample time on the power play saw both teams get a 4 on 3 advantage for Medicine Hat, and Swift Current would have a 5 on 3 but both starting goaltenders Zach Zahara (Rockyview, AB) & Reid Dyck were steady not allowing a shot past. Keeping the scoreless after 20 minutes of play with the Tigers outshooting the Broncos 17-10.
Into the second period both teams had opportunities to take a lead but it wouldn’t be till 16:48 on a Tiger power play, as Andrew Basha (Calgary, AB) would sneak through a seam and beat Reid Dyck to make it 1-0 Tigers. Tomas Mrsic (Surrey, BC) & Hunter St. Martin (Edmonton, AB) would draw points on the goal. It would be Basha’s 29th but the Tigers didn’t get to keep the lead long as 51 seconds later, the Broncos would tie the game at Mat Ward would one-time his 18th of the season past Zahara to draw even at 1-1. That score would roll into the third period with the Tigers outshooting the Broncos 27-19.
In the third the Tigers would once again go to the man advantage as Hunter St. Martin put home his 24th of the season from Rhett Parsons (Cremona, AB) & Andrew Basha at 8:04 into the third. But the Broncos would once again strike quickly to tie the game at 2-2 as Conor Geekie would one-time on a Bronco power play his 40th of the season at 9:42.
Cue Hayden Harsanyi (Calgary, AB) & his speed to get past the pinching Broncos at the Tiger blue-line, race in and solve Reid Dyck for his 12th of the season from Dru Krebs (Okotoks, AB) & Hunter St. Martin at 11:10. With the net empty and a couple close call for the home side, the Tigers would get the eventual empty netter from Andrew Basha capping off a three point night and his 30th of the season. Enough for the Tigers to come away with a 4-2 win over Swift Current.
4528 strong in the lower bowl at Co-op Place saluted the Tigers with their record now up to 36-23-5-2, and within one point of the Broncos for first in the Central Division. The Tigers special teams proved to be timely as they were 2/5 on the an-advantage and the penalty kill was 4/5.
Next up for the Tigers, the final games of the 2023-24 season as the Tigers will face the Lethbridge Hurricanes in a home-at-home series starting Friday in Lethbridge.
