TIGERS SLIP TO ICE IN 1ST HALF OF DOUBLE DIP
The Tigers were in Winnipeg to take on the ICE for the fifth of six meetings this season. Garin Bjorklund returned to the crease for the Orange and Black, while Daniel Hauser started for the home team.
The Tigers started strong, but the ICE got out to the early lead when Jakin Smallwood beat Bjorklund to put Winnipeg up by one only six minutes into the opening frame. For Smallwood it was his 24th goal of the season. Carson Lambos and Chase Wheatcroft registered the assists on the scoring play.
Both Bjorklund and Hauser’s sheets remained clean for the rest of the period, with the Washington Capitals draft pick Bjorklund causing more than one ICE shooter to look to the rafters keeping the Tabbies to within one.
Carter Chorney tied the game 6:40 into the second period when his off balance shot beat Hauser high. Tyler MacKenzie and Pasha Bocharov were credited with assists on the play.
The dam would break just over halfway through the second period when Cole Muir got his first of two on the night, the first coming on the powerplay at the 11:04 mark when Muir was able to put the home second effort to put the ICE out in front by one.
Jack Finley converted the Mikey Milne pass only three minutes later to push the ICE lead to two to close out the second period.
Chase Wheatcroft notched his 15th and 16th of the season before the midway mark of the third period to make it 5-1 in favour of Winnipeg. Cole Muir put home his second powerplay marker of the night with just over five minutes remaining to put the game on ice.
Garin Bjorklund stopped 38 saves in the effort, while his counterpart Hauser, stopped 16 of 17 shots sent his way.
These two teams will meet up again for the final time this season tomorrow afternoon at 4:00pm MDT at Wayne Fleming Arena in Winnipeg.
