Tigers forward Owen MacNeil (left) fighting off Brandon's Chad Nychuk in Wednesday's 4-1 loss at Co-Op Place (Photo courtesy Randy Feere / Medicine Hat Tigers)

By Scott Roblin

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Bjorklund stands tall in Tigers’ 4-1 loss to Wheat Kings

Feb 16, 2022 | 10:45 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Garin Bjorklund was simply stellar on Wednesday night, but the run support was missing for the Medicine Hat Tigers netminder.

Bjorklund stopped 38 shots from the Brandon Wheat Kings including all 19 shots he faced in the second period, but the Tigers’ offence fought crossbars and posts with just one goal coming the way of Medicine Hat in a 4-1 loss.

Teague Patton netted the lone goal for the Tigers to kick off four games in six nights, dropping their fourth game in a row on Wednesday.

Wheat Kings forward Riley Ginnell hopped on his own rebound 3:27 into the game to put the visitors ahead 1-0, off a four-man rush by Brandon.

The Tigers were able to exact some revenge midway through the first period however, as Andrew Basha working hard along the wall found Teague Patton in the slot for the quick wrist shot to knot the score up at 1-1.

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A big loss came in the opening period for Medicine Hat though, as veteran Noah Danielson left with a lower-body injury and did not return for the rest of the game.

Bjorklund responded from that early goal with a standout performance in the second period, denying the Wheat Kings time and time again with key saves on a number of shorthanded kills.

Medicine Hat’s parade to the penalty box finally bit the Tigers 6:18 into the third frame, with a Chad Nychuk point shot hitting a body in front and changing directions to beat Bjorklund for the go-ahead goal on the power play.

Down 2-1 and pressing late, a monster save by Brandon’s Ethan Kruger was capitalized on by the Wheaties with Noah Danielson picking up the stretch pass and burying the 3-1 dagger with 3:40 left in regulation.

Nychuk added his second of the night on an empty net, giving the Wheat Kings their fourth win in five meetings against Medicine Hat this season.

The Tigers next opportunity at ending their current losing streak will come on Friday night on the road, as they face off against former teammate Eric Van Impe and the Swift Current Broncos at 6:00 pm MST.