Cranbrook, BC – The Kootenay ICE scored 2 goals in each period to beat the Medicine Hat Tigers 6-2 in WHL playoff action on Friday night.
Tigers opened the scoring as Linden Vey stole the puck in the ICE zone then from behind the net put the puck near the top of the crease and it was pushed in by Emerson Etem.
ICE tied the game 1-1 as Brayden McNabb’s waist high point shot was deflected by Kevin King.
Tigers regained a 2-1 lead on a 3-1 on break and Matt MacKay was near the crease to redirect as pass from Bretton Cameron.
ICE tied the game 2-2 on a 2-on-1 break that developed at the Tiger blueline and Matt Fraser fired a shot that went under the goalies’ arm and into the net.
ICE took a 3-2 lead on a 2nd period power-play as Hayden Rintoul from the left face-off circle dot scored on a low shot that deflected off a skate near the crease.
The ICE got a 2-on-1 break with Brock Montgomery coming down the left wing and scored with a wrist shot high on the glove side.
Tigers changed goalies as Devan Dubyk replaced Tyler Bunz.
Early in the 3rd period the ICE made the score 5-2 as Dustin Sylvester busted through the Tigers defense to create a 2-on-1 break and scored with a wrist shot high on the glove side.
With 4 minutes left the Tigers pulled their goalie while on power-play and the ICE scored a shorthanded goal as defenseman Joey Leach, from behind his net, shot the puck high of the glass in his own zone and it went into the middle of the net.
ICE scratches – Jagger Dirk and Brendan Hurley.
Game 2 is Saturday night in Cranbrook.
Game Summary
Kootenay leads the series 1-0.
1st Period
1. Medicine Hat, Etem 1 (Vey, King) 5:56
2. Kootenay, King 1 (McNabb, Sylvester) 9:17
3. Medicine Hat, MacKay 1 (Cameron, Hamilton) 17:07
4. Kootenay, Fraser 1 (Reinhart) 19:29
Penalties – MacKay MH (tripping) 3:28, Fraser Ktn (delay of game) 11:05, Carr MH (hooking) 13:43.
2nd Period
5. Kootenay, Rintoul 1 (King, McNabb) 11:41 pp
6. Kootenay, Montgomery 1 (Czerwonka, Pearce) 15:55
Penalties – Gal MH (hooking) 1:46, McNabb Ktn (tripping) 5:23, Coyle MH (check from behind) 9:59, Konan MH Fraser Ktn (unsportsmanlike) 10:56.
3rd Period
7. Kootenay, Sylvester 1 (Pearce, Rintoul) 1:35
8. Kootenay, Leach 1 16:16 sh en
Penalties – Leach Ktn (hooking) 4:04, Reinhart Ktn (slashing) 6:31, Isherwood MH (tripping) 7:38, Leach Ktn (interference) 10:00, Isherwood MH (tripping) 11:36, Martin Ktn (tripping) 14:50, Kessy MH (charging) 16:28, Kessy MH (roughing) Kndratek MH (misconduct) Antilla Ktn (roughing) Magnus Ktn (roughing) 19:12.
Shots on goal by
Medicine Hat – 11 – 15 – 7 = 27
Kootenay - 11 - 9 – 6 = 32
Goal (shots-saves) – Medicine Hat: Tyler Bunz (24-20) (L 0-1) Devan Dubyk (15:55 second) (7-6) Kootenay: Todd Mathews (W 1-0)
Power plays (goals-chances) – Medicine Hat: 0/7 Kootenay: 1/7
Referees – Ryan Bonnett, Reagan Vetter
Linesmen – Tyler Adair, Jim Maniago
Attendance – 2,335