Cubs take series lead in second overtime game

The Medicine Hat Cubs have taken a 2-1 lead in an HJHL south semifinal series in the second overtime thriller in two nights.

With the Cubs ahead 3-1 early in the final stanza, the Gens didn't surrender. Logan Paquette brought them within one six minutes into the period before Caden Stevenson blasted the puck under the pad of Mark Peddle with 3.7 seconds remaining in regulation on a six-on-four attack to send the game into overtime.

Fifty-seven seconds into double overtime, Medicine Hat's Kyle Woolridge scored his fourth of the night to lift the Cubs to the win.

James Quaife scored the Gens first goal on a powerplay in the second period.

It was almost a case of déjà vu from the night before, only, to the disappointment of the Gens, the Cubs came out on top both times. Woolridge scored with 25 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime on Friday night before Vaughn Strutt notched the winner four minutes into overtime.

Cade Stevenson celebrates the goal that sends the game into overtime.

Disappointed the Gens didn't go on to win, Stephenson, who was named the Gens' first star, says the team will stage a comeback on Wednesday night.

"We were missing three of our best players and it was a battle for sure," says Stephenson.

Already without Connor Stephenson and Riley Hopper in the lineup, the Gens bench got shorter as the game progressed. Ethan Mateice, Tristan Ripplinger, and Andrew Guss were all injured and are day to day, says head coach Kurtis Jones.

Jones says it was a matter of the Cubs getting the bounces.

"Everybody played," says Jones. "The guys that got three shifts to the guys that got 30 shifts played well. It's a bounce in hockey in overtime. Two overtime losses, you can't be mad."

Goalie Kashton Payne put in a solid performance, particularly during the Gens' second-period slump.  Kyle Woolridge, who scored all four of Medicine Hat's goals, is foiled on this attempt.

Games between the Cubs and the Gens have been close contests all season. In the regular season, the Cubs won three and the Gens had two wins and an overtime loss.

The series resumes Wednesday, Mar. 1 at the Cochrane Arena.

The Cubs celebrate the win.