DARREN STEINKE
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Wednesday night’s game at The Arena was all about the guys who wore number nine.
Medicine Hat Tigers left-winger Hunter Shinkaruk and Prince Albert Raiders centre Mark McNeill were the show in a match between their respective clubs.
McNeill dazzeled, collecting four goals and an assist getting in on all of his team’s goals. Shinkaruk was stellar in posting a hat trick and an assist for his side. When the dust settled, the Tigers had more secondary scoring and came away with a 6-5 victory before a sellout crowd of 4,006 spectators.
“You give both of those guys a little room, and they are creative,” said Tigers head coach Shaun Clouston, whose team improved to 29-16-2-2. “They find a way to get the puck to the back of the net.
“They have great hands and good vision. We just don’t want to give McNeill as much room as we gave at times with the puck.”
At first, the two stars started off quietly.
Tigers defenceman and former Raider James Bettauer opened the scoring, driving home his 16th of the season to give the hosts a 1-0 edge in the first.
Medicine Hat increased its lead to 2-0 in the opening frame as captain Cole Grbavac scored a power-play goal in front of the Raiders goal during a net scramble. Shinkaruk drew an assist on that tally.
The Tigers dominated play in the first 20 minutes outshooting the Raiders 15-6.
Just 3:48 into the second, McNeill inserted his presence helping the Raiders force a 2-2 draw. Off a two-on-one break, he fired a rocket by Tigers goaltender Tyler Bunz. McNeill then drew a helper on the Raiders second goal, scored by rearguard Antoine Corbin.
“I was playing on a new line with (Justin) Maylan and (Logan) McVeigh tonight,” said McNeill, whose linemates had three assists each. “I give them credit for finding me out there.
“It was just all of us working together as a unit out there. We were just moving the puck well with each other. That created opportunities for us.”
When it seemed like the momentum turned, Hat product Curtis Valk scored from close in to put the Tigers up 3-2 just over two minutes after the Prince Albert surge. Shinkaruk put the tabbies up 4-2 scoring off a rebound of a shot take by Valk, while on the power play.
McNeill and Shinkaruk traded their respective second goals of the contest 26 seconds apart from each other late in the second to see the Tigers hold a 5-3 edge.
In the third, McNeill cut the gap to 5-4 early in the frame, but Shinkaruk replied over three minutes later to put the lead back to 6-4.
The issue wasn’t decided. With 35.7 seconds to play, McNeill fired home his fourth goal of the game potting a rebound on a shot taken by rookie defenceman Josh Morrissey.
The Tigers pinned the Raiders in their own zone for the remainder of the game to hold on for the win.
Tyler Bunz made 19 saves earning the win in goal for the Tigers. Cole Holowenko turned back 29 shots suffering the loss in goal for the Raiders, who fell to 15-30-1-2.
“We just wanted to win the game,” said Shinkaruk. “McNeill over there is a great player.
“Four goals and one assist, it would have been nice to tie him I guess, but we got the win, and that is all I care about.”