Cranbrook, BC – Kootenay ICE goalie Nathan Lieuwen made 37 saves while Brendan Hurley and Brayden McNbb each scoring 2 goals ina 6-3 win over the Medicine Hat Tigers in WHL action on Tuesday night.
ICE opened the scoring off a turnover in the neutral zone, Adam Rossignol cruised down the right wing and his wrist shot was stopped and the rebound was slammed into the net by Brendan Hurley.
The ICE made it 2-0 with a long stretch in the Tigers’ zone and Jesse Ismond found defenseman Brayden McNabb lurking in the middle slot, he dangled around a defenseman and as he was alone against the goalie he scored with a wrist shot high on the stickside.
In the 2nd period with the clubs skating 4-on-4 the Tigers’ scored on a 2-on-1 break as Linden Vey fed Tyler Pitlick who scored on a one-time slap shot.
ICE regained a 2-goal lead as Drew Czerwonka tried a backhand wraparound that stayed near the crease as was pushed in by Hurley who notched his 2nd of the game.
ICE took a 4-1 lead on Max Reinhart rebound as Czerwonka on the backhand lifted it over the fallen goalie.
Off a faceoff win in the ICE zone the Tigers Pitlick moved to the middle slot and scored on a wrist shot on the stick side and the 2nd period ended the ICE lading 4-2.
In the 3rd period, on a delayed penalty, Linden Vey scored on a wrist shot that went off the reaching goalies’ glove into the net,
On the powerplay Steele Boomer deflected a Joey Leach slap shot from the point that beat the screened goalie.
The Tigers’ pulled the goalie for an extra attacker with 1:22 left and the ICE scored into the empty as McNabb scored from his own blueline.
McNabb has 7 goals this season and 4 have come against Medicine Hat.
ICE will visit Medicine Hat on Wednesday.
ICE Scratches – Hayden Rintoul (knee 13th game 1 week), Brock Montgomery (game #2 of 2 game suspension).
ICE Kevin King played in his 300th career game. (5th ICE player to reach that milestone, Dale Mahovsky, Colin Sinclair, Adam Taylor, Dustin Sylvester)
McNabb has 36 career goal which ties Mike Busto for 2nd most in team history. (43 Steve McCarthy)
McNabb has 133 career points which is 2nd nest in team history. (134 Mike Busto)
Jesse Ismond's assist was his 100th career point.
The Tigers’ were 2 players short of a complete line-up even with call-up Riley Sheen playing in his 1st career game.
The crowd was the biggest at the Rec-Plex this season.
ICE remain in 1st place in the Central Division, 1 point ahead of Red Deer and 3 ahead of Medicine Hat.
McNabb extended his point streak to 8 games, Fraser to 4 games, Czerwonka to 6 games and Reinhart to 6 games.
ICE GM Jeff Chynoweth’s 15-year-old son Ryan has joined the Everett Silvertips for a couple of games this week.
Game Summary
Medicine Hat 23-10-2-0 Kootenay 24-10-1-2
1st Period
1. Kootenay, Hurley 2 (Rossignol, Dirk) 4:13
2. Kootenay, McNabb 6 (Ismond, King) 18:17
Penalties – Boomer Ktn (hooking) :17, Busenius MH Fraser Ktn (fighting) 3:15, Coyle MH (tripping) 19:55.
2nd Period
3. Medicine Hat, Pitlick 14 (Vey) 1:18
4. Kootenay, Hurley (2) 3 (Czerwonka, Antilla) 2:49
5. Kootenay, Czerwonka 10 (Reinhart, Fraser) 6:43
6. Medicine Hat, Pitlick (2) 15 (Hamilton) 16:27
Penalties – Paulsen Ktn (check from behind) :24, Fraser Ktn (check from behind) 12:43.
3rd Period
7. Medicine Hat, Vey 23 (Harrison, Parkonnen) 4:12
8. Kootenay, Boomer 8 (King, Leach) 6:43 pp
9. Kootenay, McNabb (2) 7 19:26 en
Penalties – Bredo MH (holding) 6:22, McNabb Ktn (cross checking) Ismond Ktn (misconduct) 7:24, Leach Ktn (cross checking) 10:46.
Shots on goal by
Medicine Hat – 12 – 18 – 10 = 40
Kootenay - 17 – 11 - 7 = 35
Goal (shots-saves) – Medicine Hat: Tyler Bunz (L 16-7-2-0) (34-29) Kootenay: Nathan Lieuwen (W 17-7-1-1) (40-37)
Power plays (goals-chances) – Medicine Hat: 0/5 Kootenay: 1/2
Referees – Ryan Bonnett, Brett Iverson
Linesmen – Jim Maniago, Scott Sharun
Attendance – 2,843