While it took a bit of time for the rewards to happen Friday night, the Saskatoon Blades ultimately received their just desserts in a 6-5 triumph over the Medicine Hat Tigers.

The visiting Bengals led 1-0 after the first period and 3-0 at the promotional time-out with just nine minutes remaining in the second period. That despite the Bridge City Bunch holding a 17-7 edge on the shot clock after 20 minutes and 24-14 at the mid-point of the contest…thanks in large part to the goaltending of 17-year-old Medicine Hat rookie Garin Bjorklund.

However, the breaks went the Blue and Gold’s way after that…scoring five times on their next seven shots to assume a 5-3 lead and chase Bjorklund from the Tigers’ crease. The Blades finished off their third straight win, fifth in the last six games and ninth in the last 12 outings by keeping the Bengals at bay over the final 90 seconds with an extra attacker…aided by a goal post off a Brett Kemp shot from the high slot through a forest of legs and bodies in front of Koen MacInnes.

Tristen Robins (pictured) led the way, again, for Saskatoon (now 23-18-3 for the season), recording his first career W-H-L hat-trick, including the game-winning goal on a third period power play. Robins, who is likely to receive an assist on a scoring review on a Kyle Crnkovic goal, has now scored goals in four straight games and has 10 points, including seven tallies, in that time. Crnkovic added four helpers for a career-high five-point night. Chase Wouters and Riley McKay also connected for the Bridge City Bunch in front of 3,156 fans at SaskTel Centre…while out-shooting the Tigers 36-33.

While the Blue and Gold have been winning a lot more often than not of recent, they are still in fourth place in the East Division…four points behind Brandon. But, only three points separates leading Prince Albert from the Wheat Kings as the Blades get set to host Central Division and Eastern Conference-leading Edmonton Saturday at 7 p.m. The broadcast starts at 6 on 98-COOL with the Sardinia Family Restaurant pre-game show. Following is the official game summary from the W-H-L…

Medicine Hat Tigers 5 at Saskatoon Blades 6 – Status: Final
Friday, January 24, 2020 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK

Medicine Hat 1 2 2 – 5
Saskatoon 0 3 3 – 6

1st Period-1, Medicine Hat, Hamblin 28 15:02. Penalties-Sillinger Mh (high sticking), 1:21; Chyzowski Mh (face off violation), 7:31; McKay Sas (roughing), 8:39; Kneen Sas (tripping), 10:53; Brett Kemp Mh (boarding), 16:52.

2nd Period-2, Medicine Hat, Baker 10 (Hopwo, Svejkovsky), 0:35. 3, Medicine Hat, Anderson 3 (Brinkman, Clayton), 11:37. 4, Saskatoon, Robins 19 (Crnkovic, Fasko-Rudas), 12:47. 5, Saskatoon, Crnkovic 12 (Fasko-Rudas), 15:49. 6, Saskatoon, Wouters 20 (Crnkovic), 18:38 (PP). Penalties-McKay Sas (slashing), 4:44; Lockner Mh (holding), 8:56; Krebs Mh (interference), 17:42.

3rd Period-7, Saskatoon, McKay 14 (Dach), 0:56. 8, Saskatoon, Robins 20 (Fasko-Rudas, Crnkovic), 1:55. 9, Medicine Hat, Hopwo 10 (Parker Gavlas, Hamblin), 3:15. 10, Saskatoon, Robins 21 (Crnkovic, Walford), 5:26 (PP). 11, Medicine Hat, McCarry 7 (Plouffe, McNabb), 15:06. Penalties-Chyzowski Mh (checking to the head, major-fighting), 3:08; Wiens Sas (unsportsmanlike cnd., major-fighting), 3:08; Parker Gavlas Mh (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 3:41; Dach Sas (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 3:41; Plouffe Mh (interference), 4:56; McKay Sas (roughing), 8:00; Hopwo Mh (tripping), 11:03; Brett Kemp Mh (roughing, 10-minute misconduct), 20:00; Daley Sas (10-minute misconduct), 20:00; Kneen Sas (roughing, 10-minute misconduct), 20:00.

Shots on Goal-Medicine Hat 7-10-16-33. Saskatoon 17-12-7-36.
Power Play Opportunities-Medicine Hat 0 / 4; Saskatoon 2 / 7.
Goalies-Medicine Hat, Bjorklund 15-3-0-0 (31 shots-26 saves); Sgaard 14-10-1-1 (5 shots-4 saves). Saskatoon, MacInnes 8-4-0-0 (33 shots-28 saves).
A-3,156
Referees-Jason Bourdon (20), Adam Byblow (23).
Linesmen-Aiden Penner (109), Andrew Sawatsky (123).