TIGERS AND ICE SPLIT HOME AND HOME
The Tigers and the Kootenay Ice finished off their season series with their second game in three nights. The Ice won the previous tilt 2-1 at the Arena. The Tigers would return the favor and beat the Ice in front of their home fans 3-1 on Friday night. The win put the Tigers back up seven points on the Ice with four games remaining in the regular season. It also helped the Tigers keep pace with the Calgary Hitmen and remain two up in the battle for third place. The win also helped all but guarantee the Tigers will receive home ice advantage in the opening round of the playoffs.
The Tigers would fall behind in the first period but would come out swinging in the third period. Emerson Etem scored a pair of goals late in the third period to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead with under three minutes remaining. The goals increased Etem’s league leading total to 58. James Bettauer picked up the assist on the first goal, while Hunter Shinkaruk was credited with the assist on the late power play goal. Shinkaruk added to his point total scoring his 46th of the season into the empty Ice net with only 39 seconds remaining. Bettauer picked up his second assist of the night on the empty netter.
Joe Antilla opened the game’s scoring with his 14th of the season. The goal came at the 14:26 point of the first period and looked as if it may have been the game winner until the Tigers rallied late in the third period. Brock Montgomery and Max Reinhart picked up the assists on the goal.
The goaltending was excellent for both teams throughout the game. Tyler Bunz picked up his 38th win of the season allowing only one goal on 27 shots. Nathan Lieuwen picked up the loss for the Ice despite allowing only two goals against on 26 shots.
The Tigers picked up the lone power play goal of the game going 1 for 4. The Tigers did a great job killing off all 5 power plays they gave up to the Ice.
Earls Three Stars of the Night:
1) Tyler Bunz – Medicine Hat Tigers
2) Max Reinhart – Kootenay Ice
3) Emerson Etem – Medicine Hat Tigers
The Tigers’ next game is Saturday night against the Lethbridge Hurricanes at the Enmax Centre. Game time is 7:00 PM (MST) and can be heard live on CHAT 94.5 FM at tigershockey.com or watched via webcast at livestream.whl.ca.
