Tigers take a stranglehold on series

By Lethbridge Herald on April 29, 2025.

Lethbridge Hurricanes Brayden Edwards is knocked off stride by Jonas Woo of the Medicine Hat Tigers during Game 3 of the WHL's Eastern Conference final at VisitLethbridge.com Arena on Tuesday night.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Oasiz Wiesblatt tapped in a Gavin McKenna pass 2:41 into the first overtime to give the Medicine Hat Tigers a 7-6 Game 3 overtime win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes  and a 3-0 stranglehold lead in the series on Tuesday night at VisitLethbridge.com Arena.

“Yeah, it’s frustrating for sure,” said Canes forward Miguel Marques, who had a three-point night.

“I think the first few games of the series, we (knew) we weren’t the team we were supposed to be and that kind of bit us a bit, and then tonight we just got stick with it for a full 60. I think that’s kind of been one of our issues is consistency and I think tonight really showed . They  came out , they wanted to push, they want to end the series obviously, so  we had to come (and) match it, we didn’t unfortunately, and that’s how it goes.”

Marques said a series isn’t over until it’s over.

“We  gotta stay positive,” said Marques.

“Now we’re in a hole but we know that we can dig ourselves out of it  (if )we come and play like we did tonight for the  majority of the game.”

Head coach Bill Peters wanted some moments back in the game.

“We had lots of opportunities,” said Peters.

“Even when it’s 5-3, we go on the powerplay, so that’s a pivotal moment there and then the  5 vs 6, (if) we handle that a little differently that’s a pivotal moment. So there’s some moments that we’d  like back.”

Peters doesn’t think there needs to be much said as the players know the task at hand.

“We’re gonna have to buckle down and play better defensively and we’re gonna have to manage the puck better,” said Peters.

The Canes got the start in the goal department they did not get in the first two games, as they found the back of the net twice in the opening frame.

Kooper Gizowski’s wrist shot from the point found the back of the net 3:41 into the first period on the powerplay to give the Canes an early 1-0 lead.

Caden Price and Easton Daneault assisted on Gizowski’s fifth of the playoffs.

Noah Chadwick then took a pass in the slot from Brayden Edwards and wristed it passed Harrison Meneghin to give Lethbridge a 2-0 lead  11:40 into the first.

Miguel Marques also got an assist on the goal.

Kash Andresen gave the Canes a 3-0 lead 5:26 into the second period on a breakaway goal from Luke Cozens.

Ryder Ritchie got the Tigers on the board 30 seconds later from Jonas Woo and Gavin McKenna.

Chadwick then took a pass from Miguel Marques and one-timed it  in 8:52 into the second on the powerplay to give Lethbridge a 4-1 lead.

Brayden Yager also got assist on Chadwick’s goal.

Liam Ruck  found the back of the net 11:53 into the second on the powerplay to cut the Canes lead in half to 4-2.

Tanner Molendyk and Bryce Pickford assisted on Ruck’s fourth of the playoffs.

Molendyk brought the Tigers to within a goal with 5:04 to go in the second period.

Veeti Väisänen assisted on the Molendyk tally.

Marques tapped in a loose puck 1:12 into the third period to give the Canes a 5-3 lead.

Edwards assisted on the marker.

The Tigers Matthew Ward was sprung on a shorthanded breakaway by Molendyk  and he ripped it top shelf on Jackson Unger at 6:45 of the third period to bring the score to 5-4.

Kadon McCann tied the game with 9:37 to go in the third, with the assists going to Woo and
Misha Volotovskii.

Brayden Yager gave the Canes a 6-5 lead with 3:19 to go in the game, before Pickford tied the game with 1:10 to go in the third period to send the game to overtime.

Medicine Hat outshot Lethbridge 25-27 in the contest.

Lethbridge went 2-for-4 on the powerplay.

The Canes will look to stave off elimination in tonight’s Game 4.

Please visit https://www.lethbridgeherald.com for the game story with quotes.