Tabbies earn fifth straight win

By Ryan McCracken on January 5, 2019.

rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com @MHNMcCracken

Garin Bjorklund extended the undefeated start to his Western Hockey League career with another stellar performance on Friday night at the Canalta Centre.

The 16-year-old Medicine Hat Tigers goaltender stopped 29 shots to keep the Kootenay Ice at bay and secure a 5-3 victory in his second start since being called up in the absence of Danish netminder Mads S¿gaard.

“It feels really good,” said Bjorklund. “The team has been there to support me through this journey that I’ve had in Medicine Hat and I appreciate that.”

The win keeps Medicine Hat’s perfect run since returning from the Christmas break alive with their fifth consecutive victory.

“The guys have really dug in,” said Tigers head coach Shaun Clouston. “They’re competing, they’re relying on some structure and blocking a lot of shots. There are a lot of guys really selling out to protect the net-front and it’s working right now.”

Hayden Ostir broke open a scoreless game 11 minutes into the first period when he took a pass from Ryan Jevne, marched into the slot and ripped a wrist shot past Ice netminder Jesse Makaj for his ninth of the year and second in as many contests.

Logan Christensen picked up the second assist on the marker, which leaves every member on Medicine Hat’s roster with at least one point in the five games since they returned from the Christmas break.

“We kind of roll the lines a bit and it’s nice when everyone is contributing because you don’t really have to rely as much on one or two guys,” said Christensen. “There’s no pressure on anyone in particular. It’s nice that way.”

Kootenay regained their footing and managed to leave the ice after 20 minutes with an 8-6 edge in shots, but Bjorklund stopped them all to keep his team in front at the break.

Josh Williams doubled up on Medicine Hat’s lead early in the second period when he redirected a shot from Eric Van Impe past Makaj from a sharp angle.

Austin Schellenberg put Kootenay on the board on a power play by deflecting a Martin Bodak wrist shot. Medicine Hat product and former Tigers winger Jaeger White set things back to even two minutes later by beating Bjorklund with a shot off the rush during an extended stretch of 4-on-4, but within two minutes Medicine Hat had re-established their two-goal padding.

“They put lots of pressure on us,” said Clouston. “I thought Kootenay played a great game. We needed everybody going É It was a big night and it’s great to see everybody dialled in and focused and competing.”

Ryan Chyzowski finished off a cross-crease feed from Dylan MacPherson just 57 seconds after White’s tying tally, then Preziuso jumped on a rebound on top of the crease and slotted the puck past Makaj one minute later to create some breathing room entering the third.

White struck for his second of the night with just over two minutes left in regulation, but Preziuso caught Makaj heading for the bench and hit the open cage to seal the victory.

“We were right in it until the end, so that’s a good sign against a good team,” said White, named the first star after playing what could be his final WHL game in Medicine Hat. “When I played for the Tigers I always took pride in playing hard in this building and when I come to play here it’s no different. I’m happy with the finish, but it’s unfortunate that we couldn’t get the two points.”

Makaj settled for a 24-save loss, dropping the Ice to 8-25-6-1. Medicine Hat improved to 22-15-1-2 with the victory.

Ostir was forced to leave the game favouring his lower body late in the second period after crashing hard into the end boards with Ice defenceman Martin Bodak. The Winnipeg product had to be helped off the ice by teammates and did not return.

The Tigers hit the road to Calgary to take on the Hitmen(18-16-3-1) in the CHL Saturday Showcase at 1:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on Sportsnet.

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