Tigers goaltender Garin Bjorklund (right) staring down Wheat Kings star Ridly Greig (left) on a breakaway in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime win (Photo courtesy of Medicine Hat Tigers / Randy Feere)

By Scott Roblin

OT Heroics

MacNeil nets overtime winner as Tigers rally to down Wheaties

Jan 12, 2022 | 10:49 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Medicine Hat Tigers assistant coach Josh Maser said his team would not be denied on Wednesday night.

With a snap of the wrist by Owen MacNeil, the Tigers earned a 4-3 comeback victory in overtime at Co-Op Place over the Brandon Wheat Kings to kick off a busy week in style.

Medicine Hat rallied from 2-1 and 3-2 deficits against the Wheaties on Wednesday, forcing extra time with MacNeil stepping up as hero with 1:16 left in the extra frame.

Ashton Ferster opened the scoring on the power play a little over four minutes into the game, marking the Tigers’ return to game play following a week-long pause due to COVID-19 protocols.

A pair of quick strikes by Brandon midway through the frame, including a highlight-reel give and go play finished off by Ridly Greig, was enough to boost Brandon into the lead through 20 minutes of play however.

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Just 46 seconds into the second period, the Tigers tied up the game off a Pavel Bocharov shot that rebounded off Wheat Kings defender Mason Ward into the back of the Brandon net.

Greig showcased his individual ability under three minutes later, picking the puck up on the wing and ripping a wrist shot off the post and in to re-take the lead for the Wheat Kings.

That 3-2 lead held for most of the game, before newly acquired forward Brendan Lee potted his first goal as a member of the Tigers midway through the third.

Overtime would be needed and despite the Wheat Kings holding control of the puck for most of the extra frame, Tyler MacKenzie was able to dish it cross-ice to MacNeil who walked in to go five-hole on Ethan Kruger in his first game back in the Tigers’ lineup since December 18.

Wednesday’s win marked the first victory when trailing after the first period for the Tigers this year, going 0-14-1 to this point in the season in that category.

Both Bjorklund and Kruger came up with some monster stops for their respective teams, with Bjorklund making 19 saves on the evening for the two points.

Medicine Hat is off on Thursday before beginning three games in three nights, starting with a road tilt against the Moose Jaw Warriors on Friday at 6:00 MST.