Tigers beat Chiefs 4-3 in shootout

The Medicine Hat Tigers rallied from a one-goal deficit in the third period to beat the Spokane Chiefs 4-3 in a shootout at Numerica Veterans Arena in Spokane on Friday, according to the league's official game summary.

Spokane's Cohen Harris put the Chiefs ahead 2-1 at 8:40 of the third, but Medicine Hat tied it 81 seconds later when Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll scored his first of the season, assisted by Mace'o Phillips and Markus Ruck. Luke Cozens then gave the Tigers the lead at 13:51 on a power-play goal — his ninth of the season — assisted by Liam Ruck and Dayton Reschny.

Spokane pulled level before regulation ended, sending the game to overtime and eventually a shootout, where the Tigers prevailed.

The Chiefs had opened the scoring late in the first period when Owen Martin notched his ninth goal of the season at 18:28, assisted by Chase Harrington and Tyus Sparks. Josh Evaschesen tied it for Medicine Hat just 4:17 into the second with an unassisted marker, his sixth of the year, before Sparks restored Spokane's lead at 7:11 of the middle frame.

Both goaltenders finished with identical numbers through 65 minutes of play. Carter Casey stopped 22 of 25 shots for Medicine Hat and was credited with the win. Spokane's Carter Esler also turned aside 22 of 25 shots before taking the shootout loss.

Sparks and Harrington were named the game's first and second stars for Spokane. Cozens took third-star honours for Medicine Hat. Each team finished with 25 shots on goal. The Tigers went one for two on the power play; the Chiefs were held scoreless in three attempts.

With the win, Medicine Hat moves to 7-5-1 and 15 points, third in the Central Division. Spokane falls to 10-1-1 and sits second in the WHL overall.

The Tigers continue their road trip Saturday when they visit the Tri-City Americans at Toyota Center in Kennewick, Wash., with puck drop scheduled for 6 p.m. PDT.