Winnipeg ICE forward Chase Wheatcroft (left) scoring a between-the-legs goal in Saturday's 6-1 victory over the Medicine Hat Tigers (Photo courtesy Winnipeg ICE / Twitter)

By Scott Roblin

6-1 Loss

Bjorklund’s dazzling saves not enough for Tigers in Winnipeg

Apr 9, 2022 | 10:35 PM

WINNIPEG, MB – For much of Saturday’s contest, the Medicine Hat Tigers held off the usual onslaught by the Winnipeg ICE and went toe-to-toe with one of the nation’s top teams.

That holding pattern led by Garin Bjorklund only lasted so long however, as the ICE exploded down the second half for five unanswered goals to earn a 6-1 victory over the Tigers.

Highlighted by several stops that likely will end up on ‘WHL Plays of the Week’ it was a stellar showing from Bjorklund with 38 saves, however Medicine Hat ultimately struggled to defend off the rush in the loss.

Winnipeg got out to a 1-0 lead 6:20 into the game with Chase Wheatcroft finding Jakin Smallwood for the tap-in for his 24th of the season.

Medicine Hat’s best period was easily their first, as they equalled Winnipeg’s top-tier chances and went to the intermission tied in shots 7-7.

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Carter Chorney found the tying goal for the Tigers just under seven minutes into the second, spinning around and ripping a shot top shelf on Daniel Hauser.

That goal seemed to wake up the ICE, as they tallied back-to-back goals from Cole Muir on the power play before Jack Finley tapped home a Mikey Milne pass off the rush to put Winnipeg up by two at the break.

Those goals were sandwiched by a cross-ice glove save from Bjorklund off a two-on-one that stunned the crowd at Wayne Fleming Arena, one of several highlight-reel stops from Grand Prairie’s own.

The third period quickly turned into the Chase Wheatcroft show for Winnipeg though, as he netted two goals in three minutes including a between-the-legs tally to make it 5-1.

Muir was able to add his second power play goal of the night with five and a half minutes remaining, as the ICE moved to 5-0 on the season against the Tigers.

Dropping their 10th consecutive game, Medicine Hat will wind up their Manitoba road swing on Sunday at 4:00 pm MDT for a rematch with the ICE in their final road game of the season.