NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers net minder Garin Bjorklund stretches out to make a breakaway save in the first period of the Tigers 2-0 win Saturday night over the Swift Current Broncos.
Garin Bjorklund was perfect for the Medicine Hat Tigers who snapped their losing streak Saturday night.
Bjorklund made 33 saves for the Tigers to pick up his first shutout of the season as Medicine Hat beat the Swift Current Broncos 2-0. The win snapped the Tigers 12 game losing streak as they went winless in the month of February.
Saturday night marked the return of forward Tyler MacKenzie whose last game was on Jan. 22.
It was a back and forth game as the Tigers and Broncos traded chances all contest long. Medicine Hat had two power play opportunities in the first period that they were un-able to capitalize on as Swift Current led the frame in shots 10-6.
The game started to open up in the second period as both teams settled in to the contest. Medicine Hat’s penalty kill was put to work in the frame as they killed off three penalties, including a Teague Patton high sticking double minor mid-way through the frame.
Brayden Boehm and Andrew Basha had mini breakaway chances for the Tigers in the period but were turned aside by Broncos net minder Isaac Poulter.
After being out shot 9-8 in the second period, the Tigers snapped the game’s offensive drought come the third frame.
Carter Chorney picked up his second goal of the season 10:21 into the third to give the Tigers a lead in the goalie duel. Owen MacNeil and Gleb Ivanov had the assists on the 20-year-old Chorney’s second goal of the season.
His marker proved to be the game winner as MacNeil potted his eighth of the season on an empty Swift Current with one second left in the game to secure the Tigers 10th win of the season. Bogdans Hodass had the lone assist on MacNeil’s empty netter.
Accross the ice from Bjorklund, Poulter made 23 saves in the loss as the Broncos remain tied for the final Eastern Conference wildcard spot with 47 points.
The win pushes the Tigers into the double digits in the win column as their record sits at 10-38-3-1. They’ll look to start a winning streak Wednesday when the Edmonton Oil Kings come to town. That contest gets underway at 7 p.m. at Co-op Place.
