Warriors Squeaked Past Pats

Nick Murray

Your Moose Jaw Warriors were in the queen city to battle Nick Henry and the Regina Pats and they were looking to turn their fortunes around after losing a rough one to the Calgary Hitmen the night previous; a game in which they unveiled handsome, newly designed uniforms but played a pretty awful game of hockey all around.

Saturday evening’s game was one defined by penalties, power plays and penalty kills as the two teams combined for 26 penalty minutes and four of the game’s five goals were scored during penalties.

The first period started with penalties and solid goal tending from Moose Jaw's Adam Evanoff, who made sixteen saves in the frame and a total of 31 on the night.

Regina, who was the stronger team in the first, struck at 15:38. Nick Henry and Jake Leschyshyn set Austin Pratt up for his 5th of the season, taking full advantage of an Alec Sukunda cross-checking penalty.

The period finished with the Pats up 1-0.

Daniil Stepanov squaring up for a face-off.

Photo: Keith Hershmiller

The Warriors came out much stronger in period two but couldn't keep themselves out of the penalty box long enough to string together any productive scoring opportunities. But who needs productive scoring opportunities when you've got a kid like Tate Popple on the ice who just scores them short-handed. Nick Bowman shuffled the puck his way and he beat Max Paddock, blocker side.

Regina regained the lead in the 17th minute when Jake Leschyshyn put home another power play goal.

After two periods of play it was Regina 2, Warriors 1.

The Warriors battled back in the third, scoring on the power play early in the period to even things out. It was Ryan Peckford this time, poking in a rebound for only his second of the season. He was expected to be on of the club's top producers in 2018 and hasn't been creating too many goals yet.

But that goal was enough to spark a flame under the tribe's collective asses because they were clearly the better club for the remainder of the game.

At 12:36 of the third Daniil Stepanov found Tristan Langan who found the back of the net, beating Max Paddock on the glove side, for his 8th of the season, to put his side up 3-2.

Thay was all the Warriors needed, Evanoff remained strong in net and kept the door closed on any Pats goals.

The Warriors will be back at Mosaic Place on Wednesday the 24th when they host the division leading Prince Albert Raiders.