Medicine Hat's Lukas Svejkovsky and Edmonton's Jalen Luypen battling for a loose puck in the Tigers' 3-2 shootout victory on Saturday (Photo courtesy Randy Feere / Medicine Hat Tigers)

By Scott Roblin

Tigers Rally

Tigers conquer Oil Kings in shootout, break Edmonton losing streak

Oct 9, 2021 | 11:38 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Garin Bjorklund’s celebration stopping Dylan Guenther in the shootout Saturday said it all, as the Medicine Hat Tigers reeled in a huge 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oil Kings.

Bjorklund stoned the Arizona Coyotes first round in the final round of the shootout, busting out the fishing rod to help the Tigers complete a wild comeback for their first win over their divisional rivals since the start of the pandemic.

After doubling up the Red Deer Rebels 4-2 on Friday night to earn their first victory of the season, the Tabbies got out to another quick start with Lukas Svejkovsky receiving a puck fired off the end boards to his tape for his first of the night under four minutes in.

It was the third straight game with a goal for Svejkovsky, who leads the WHL in goals scoring with six in just his trio of games.

Medicine Hat’s lead was erased midway through the period though, with Edmonton’s Shea Van Olm fanning on a shot but still putting it past Bjorklund following a review.

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Tigers defenceman Daniel Baker was charged with three straight penalty calls against him late in the second and early in the third periods, however the home side was able to keep it at a 1-1 score.

Edmonton finally broke through eight minutes into the third frame off a defensive zone turnover by Caleb Willms, with Van Olm setting up John Szabo for his first career WHL marker.

Despite being outshot, the Tigers began to mount a comeback attempt with Baker letting a shot from the point go with 3:38 left in regulation that fooled Oil Kings netminder Sebastian Cossa to send the game to overtime.

A late penalty in the third to Medicine Hat’s Rhett Parsons meant Edmonton would begin the sudden death frame up a skater, but the Tigers penalty kill stepped up again.

In the shootout, Svejkovsky was the lone skater to find the back of the net going five-hole on Cossa before Bjorklund recorded three straight saves to pick up the big victory.

Bjorklund was exceptional with a 35-save performance Saturday to grab his first win of the WHL season, while Cossa recorded 28 stops.

Rallying from a 0-2 start to the season, the Tigers will have a shot at going for three straight victories on Friday night when they kick off a Saskatchewan road trip in Saskatoon.