MEDICINE HAT -- The Medicine Hat Tigers have lived up to their advance billing through the first two games of their Western Hockey League playoff series with the Swift Current Broncos.
The Tigers took a 3-1 lead out of the first period on Saturday night in Medicine Hat and had a reply for anything the Broncos threw at them, going on to a 6-3 victory at Co-Op Place.
As a result, the Tigers now have a two-games-to-none lead in the best-of-seven series, with Game 3 set for Tuesday in Swift Current.
Medicine Hat wasted no time getting on the board, as Bryce Pickford opened scoring 46 seconds into the contest. Brady Birnie replied for the Raiders 24 seconds later, but that would be their only good news in the period as Ryder Ritchie and Oasiz Weisblatt scored over the next six minutes to give the Tigers their 3-1 lead.
The second period was a back-and-forth affair, beginning when the Broncos’ Rylan Gould made it a one-goal game at the 8:36 mark. Weisblatt continued his hot scoring hand with his fifth goal of the series 1:49 later, but Swift Current’s Clarke Caswell would make it a one-goal game going into the third with 4:20 to play.
There things remained until late in the game, when Ryder Ritchie made it 5-3 with 3:57 remaining in regulation and Gavin McKenna scored his first of the playoffs with 2:18 remaining.
McKenna was plenty busy otherwise on the night, racking up four assists and finishing with five points. Ritchie capped his evening with four points and Weisblatt also had an assist. Jonas Woo picked up two helpers.
Harrison Meneghin only faced 15 shots in taking the win, Reid Dyck stopped 27 for Swift Current.
Game 3 is set for Tuesday night at the Innovationplex in Swift Current, with puck drop at 7 p.m.
