NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Tyler Mackenzie avoids the Winnipeg defender inside the Ice's blueline in the first period of the Tigers 4-2 loss Saturday night.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.comReporterTubb
Make it nine losses in a row now for the Tigers.
Despite a late third period comeback, Medicine Hat could not make up for the Winnipeg Ice offence, losing 4-2 Saturday night. The loss signals the Tigers longest losing streak since the 2000-’01 season.
Head coach and general manager Willie Desjardins said there were games they could have won throughout the losing streak and moments in Saturday’s loss that could have changed the outcome.
“We’ve been there every night. Even the second period it’s right there, we got the puck in their zone, we just miss a chance,” Desjardins said. “We turn it over and they score. That’s the game. We make the play going the other way and it’s a 1-1 game going into the third, totally different. But we’re not making that play and until we do make that play, we are going to continue to lose hockey games. Just not what we need yet.”
The crowd of 2632 fans Saturday night were quickly silenced after Winnipeg’s Zachary Benson scored only 26 seconds into the game. Benson’s 11th of the season marked the ninth straight game Medicine Hat has surrendered the first goal of the game.
The rest of the first period would remain goalless as both teams traded chances to no avail. The Ice outshot Medicine Hat 9-7 in the frame after controlling a majority of the play in the period.
Tigers forward Lukas Svejkovsky said he’s never been a part of a losing streak like this and said the Tabbies need to fix their mistakes.
“I think it is just the same story as every game, we have the teams where we want them and a couple mistakes and we are just out of the game like that,” Svejkovsky said. “It’s obviously super frustrating.”
Medicine Hat would have a couple chances in close on Winnipeg net minder Daniel Hauser throughout the second period but could not get the puck to hit twine.
Corson Hopwo took a hit in the corner to the right of Hauser halfway through the second and immediately skated off the ice while grabbing his knee. The veteran forward did not return in the second period or the rest of the game.
Desjardins said he did not know the extent of the injury or Hopwo’s status for the Tigers Tuesday night game against Regina.
The second frame seemed destined to be without offence until Matthew Savoie scored his 10th of the year with 25.4 seconds left to put Winnipeg ahead 2-0. After 40, the Ice were outshooting the Tabbies 21-12.
Winnipeg doubled down on their lead halfway through the third frame. Jakin Smallwood scored on a two on one with 9:27 left in the period and Savoie added his second of the game only 1:28 later to put Winnipeg ahead 4-0.
Savoie, who leads the WHL in points with 32, said it was nice to produce offence in the win and he’s enjoying his team’s hot start to the season.
“We have such a tight group, it’s probably one of the closest teams I’ve ever played on,” Savoie said.
Medicine Hat would avoid the shutout as Teague Patton would knock a puck loose in front of Hauser into the net to get the Tigers on the board with 4:37 left in the game. Only three minutes later Owen MacNeil would get his third of the season but it wouldn’t be enough for the comeback as the Ice held on to win 4-2.
The Tigers were coming off a 7-3 loss on Friday night in Lethbridge to the Hurricanes. Desjardins said it’s losing streaks like this that bring teams closer and said this is a learning curve for the young Tigers core.
“It’s test like this that make you better,” Desjardins said. “It’s going through this where you learn to rely on your teammates, you learn who is going to play hard. Do we enjoy it? Not for a second. But we can use this to make us a better team in the end. This group is going to be together for awhile so they’ve got to learn and get better.”
Garin Bjorklund stopped 28 of the 32 shots he faced in the loss. Desjardins said he thought his net minder was good in the loss and kept the Tigers in it late.
“He kept us in their for long enough, we had to get something earlier to give him a chance and he kept us there and we didn’t get it for him,” Desjardins said. “He’s a good goaltender and we know he will be there for us every night.”
Heading into Saturday night’s game the Ice were ranked the top team in the Canadian Hockey League after their 18-1-0 start. Winnipeg head coach James Patrick said his goaltender, Hauser, was the difference for the Ice in the win.
“He’s been outstanding for us,” Patrick said. “He was more important for the victory than any other player.”
When asked if the Tigers gained any confidence from holding a close game against the top CHL team, Desjardins said his team won’t.
“You know it’s funny, not right now,” Desjardins said. “They don’t take any solace out of being close, it doesn’t do anything for them. I do think they should take a little bit out of how hard they played, I thought the want was there and to me that’s key. You play the game the right way and the wins will come. We know where we’re at and we know what we have to do.”
The Tigers have a chance to break their slump Tuesday night when the Regina Pats and Connor Bedard are in town. Puck drops at 7 p.m..
