Odd-man-break on top of odd-man break, a couple of quick goals and a 2-1 lead after the first period will do that, especially when one team has 16 more wins and 32 more points than the other.
But those kind of records happen for a reason, and the Tigers were able to use their depth and experience to a tee as the game wore on, eventually scoring four third period goals to take a 5-2 victory.
The Warriors got on the board early, as Logan Doust sprung free on a breakaway and beat Tigers goaltender Garin Bjorklund with a shot high to the glove side only 4:48 into the contest. The shot was Doust’s first as a Warriors since joining the team in the blockbuster deal with Victoria earlier in the week.
Warriors captain Owen Hardy got in on the action two minutes later, keeping on a two-on-one and rifling a shot off the near post past Bjorklund. Hardy then had another chance only moments later on a partial breakaway but was denied.
The Tigers would get on the board with 6:53 left in the period on a fluke goal by Caleb Willms, with the puck bouncing off a stanchion and straight in front of the net. Warriors goaltender Boston Bilous attempted to get back in position but was only able to get a piece of the puck, sending Medicine Hat into the break down by one
There the score would remain until 2:42 into the third, when Tigers veteran Cole Sillinger scored to tie things 2-2. Brett Kemp then added the game-winner with 4:50 remaining in the contest.
Kemp and Daniel Baker scored empty-net goals in the final two minutes.
Bilous was once again stellar in goal while facing 49 shots, including 15 in the second and 17 in each of the first and third. Bjorklund was far less busy with a 22-save showing.
The Warriors fell to 11-24-2-0 on the season and remain three points up on Eastern Conference last-place Swift Current and five back of the Regina Pats. The Tribe are also winless in three and have one victory in their last 10 games.
Medicine Hat improved to 27-12-1 and sit in second place in the Conference, eight points back of the WHL-leading Edmonton Oil Kings.
The two teams are back at it on Saturday night as the Warriors host Medicine Hat on the first Hockey Fights Cancer night. The Warriors have partnered with CAE for the initiative and local cadets will be selling ‘I Fight For’ placards during the game and will be holding special auctions throughout the night. In addition, after the game fans will have an opportunity to write a special message on the ice to those they wish to remember.
All proceeds from the event will go to fight cancer in the community.
Game time is 7 p.m. at Mosaic Place.
Overtime… It didn’t take long for former Warriors forward Brayden Tracey to have an impact with the Victoria Royals… the Anaheim Ducks prospect scored the game-winning goal in overtime in his first game on the island as Victoria defeated the Western Conference-leading Portland Winterhawks… Goaltender Adam Evanoff didn’t see action in the contest… Moose Jaw product Reece Newkirk scored the lone goal for Portland and leads the Winterhawks in scoring 18 goals and 46 points in 37 games, good enough for 13th in WHL scoring.
