Tigers top Rebels in a shootout

By Medicine Hat News on November 16, 2019.

Medicine Hat Tigers forward Jonathan Brinkman set up Nick McCarry with six minutes left to force overtime before scoring in the fourth round of the shootout to secure a 4-3 victory over the Red Deer Rebels on Friday night at the Enmax Centrium.

Garin Bjorklund backed the Tabbies to victory with a 29-save effort before stopping 3-of-4 in the shootout. The 17-year-old netminder held the Tigers in a scoreless stalemate through 20 minutes despite being outshot 14-7 in the opening frame.

Brett Kemp rewarded Bjorklund’s efforts by converting on a power play opportunity early in the second period – finishing off a slap pass from Cole Sillinger on the doorstep for his sixth of the season – but the Rebels quickly responded with an equalizer from newly acquired forward Ben King.

Red Deer kept up the pressure and Jaxsen Wiebe stole away the lead by cutting into the slot and chipping a shot past Bjorklund six minutes later.

The Rebels added some breathing room in the dying minutes of the middle frame when Chris Douglas found Josh Tarzwell streaking down the ice for a breakaway goal. But Corson Hopwo managed to get one back on a deflection with 31 seconds left in the period to leave the Tigers within striking distance entering the third.

McCarry netted the equalizer with just over six minutes remaining in regulation by redirecting a shot from Brinkman past Ethan Anders to force overtime.

After sudden death couldn’t provide a winner, Bjorklund allowed a goal to King in the first round of the shootout before stopping Brett Davis, Dawson Barteaux and Cameron Hausinger. Tabby rookie Cole Sillinger scored to extend the shootout in the third round after James Hamblin and Kemp were stopped, then Brinkman put the game away in the fourth.

Anders took the loss on 27 saves, dropping Red Deer to 6-11-0-3.

Medicine Hat improved to 13-6-1-0 with the victory.

The Tigers return to the Canalta Centre Saturday to host the Edmonton Oil Kings (13-3-3-1) at 7:30 p.m. in their first home game since Oct. 15.