The Medicine Hat Cubs struck first in the South Finals.
The Cubs beat the Cochrane Generals 4-1 Friday night at the Kinplex to open the third-round, best-of-five series with a 1-0 lead.
Special teams was the difference for the Cubs, scoring on two of their four power plays. The Generals were held scoreless on their four man advantages.
The Cubs rattled off a pair of goals in a span of 35 seconds in the first period that proved to be the difference maker.
Jesse Klimosko opened the scoring 7:10 into the game with his second of the playoffs, Randen Collier picking up the lone assist. Just 35 seconds later, captain Kyle Woolridge scored the eventual game winner, potting his sixth of the postseason. Medicine Hat outshot the Generals 12-10 in the first period.
Cochrane got on the board early in the second, Brayden Palinkas scored his first of the playoffs, making it a 2-1 Cubs lead 2:45 into the middle frame. That was the lone tally Cubs starter Marlo DeRosa allowed. The HJHL’s top goaltender this season, announced Friday, finished with 33 saves in the win.
The Cubs responded late in the second period with a couple of tallies.
Jacob Hazzard scored his third of the playoffs, capitalizing on a power play at 16:04 with Connor Chapman and Makhi Carriere recording the assists. A little over a minute later, on another power play, Ethan Burgeson scored his first of the playoffs for the 4-1 lead after 40 minutes.
The lead stood the third period as the Cubs held off the Generals, despite Cochrane outshooting them 16-2 in the frame. The Generals finished the game with 34 shots to the Cubs 26. Isaias Maddigan made 22 saves in the Cochrane net.
Game 2 of the series goes Sunday in Cochrane at 3 p.m. before play returns to Medicine Hat on Thursday for an 8:30 p.m. Game 3. If needed, Game 4 would be March 7 in Cochrane and a decisive Game 5 would be March 8 back at the Kinplex.
The Medicine Hat Cubs extend a very gracious thank you to James Tubb and the Medicine Hat News for their excellent coverage all season long.
For more great local sports content, visit medicinehatnews.com
Photo courtesy of Matt Piotrowsky Photography
