TIGERS FINISH ROAD TRIP WITH 4-3 VICTORY OVER CHIEFS
The Tigers finished off their three game road trip with a great 4-3 victory against the Spokane Chiefs. The win gave them a little breathing room in the Eastern Conference as it put them up four points on the eighth place Saskatoon Blades.
The win was their second straight and once again the Tigers spread their offence throughout the lineup. Boston Leier, Hunter Shinkaruk, Miles Koules and Curtis Valk were the goal scorers for Medicine Hat. Leier and Shinkaruk’s goal came early in the second period and gave the Tigers a 2-1 lead. The goals were their 10th and 28th of the season respectively. Koules scored his 12th of the season only 2:29 into the third period to reinstate the Tigers’ one goal lead. The Chiefs would respond but Valk would score the game winner at the 7:54 mark of the third as the Tigers were on the power play. The goal was Valk’s team leading 29th of the season. Leier and Shinkaruk both added an assist to give them a team leading two points in the game.
The Chiefs got a pair of goals from Todd Fiddler and one from Blake Gal in the loss. Fiddler opened the scoring for the Chiefs late in the first period. He followed that up with his second of game only eight seconds into the third period to tie the game at 2-2. His pair of goals brought his season total up to 35. Gal scored his ninth of the season only 11 seconds after Koules’ goal to once again tie the game.
Cam Lanigan was phenomenal in net for the Tigers picking up his 17th win of the season. Lanigan made 55 saves in the victory. Garret Hughson got the start in net for the Chiefs. He made 27 saves in the loss.
On the power play the Tigers went 1 for 2, while killing off all three Chiefs’ power play opportunities.
Earls Three Stars of the Night:
1) Cam Lanigan – Medicine Hat Tigers
2) Todd Fiddler – Spokane Chiefs
3) Boston Leier – Medicine Hat Tigers
Insurance Brokers Association of Western Canada Insurance Goal of the Game – Curtis Valk
The Tigers’ next game is Tuesday, January 29th against the Calgary Hitmen at the Arena. 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.
