TIGERS TOP BLADES 5-2 IN GAME 3
Tiger fans were ready to welcome home the boys Tuesday night as they played Game Three. The Tigers held a 2-0 lead on the series after taking both games in Saskatoon and were looking to put even more pressure on the Blades with a home ice victory. The Tigers put up five early goals and Cam Lanigan and the Tigers’ defence did the rest as they held off the Blades to win 5-2 and take a commanding 3-0 lead in the series.
The Tigers came out firing in the first period and scored four unanswered goal. Curtis Valk opened the scoring only 3:08 into the game. Kyle Becker followed that up just under two minutes later with his first of the postseason to make it a two goal game. Steven Owre gave the Tigers a comfortable three goal lead later in the first with his first career WHL goal. Logan McVeigh finished off the big period with his first career postseason goal. The goal was a power play marker and gave the Tigers a 4-0 lead much to the fans’ delight.
Hunter Shinkaruk added to the Tigers’ lead early in the second period with his second of the series. The goal was the power play unit’s second of the game. The Blades would cut into the Tigers lead midway through the second period. Lukas Sutter got the Blades on the board with his first of the postseason and Medicine Hat native Darren Dietz would cut the lead to 5-2 with a goal of this own a few minutes later.
The third period didn’t see any scoring but there was plenty of good hockey. Cam Lanigan and the Tigers’ defencemen did a great job of limiting the chances though and held the Blades scoreless in the frame. As the final buzzer went to end the Tigers’ 5-2 victory the tension boiled over for the Blades and Josh Nicholls was assessed a slashing major and game misconduct with no time remaining on the clock.
Cam Lanigan picked up his third straight victory and made 42 saves for the third straight game as well. Lanigan has been a star of the series and was named the CHL Goaltender of the Week earlier in the day. Andrey Makarov got the start again in net for the Blades and allowed four goals against on 14 shots in the first period. Alex Moodie came on in relief to start the second period and allowed one goal against on 20 shots.
On the power play the Tigers went 2 for 5, while killing off both Blades’ power play opportunities.
Earls Three Stars of the Night:
1) Curtis Valk – Medicine Hat Tigers
2) Cam Lanigan – Medicine Hat Tigers
3) Hunter Shinakruk – Medicine Hat Tigers
Insurance Brokers Association of Western Canada Insurance Goal of the Game – Logan McVeigh
The Tigers’ next game is Wednesday, March 27th against the Saskatoon Blades 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 and on SHAW TV.
