Firkus Hat-Trick Unseats Division Leader
By Twitter: @MJWarriorsHistory Instagram: @moosejawwarriors_history
In order to be the best, you have to beat the best.”
That must have been the Moose Jaw Warriors ethos on Saturday night.
They were badly in need of an uplifting performance and the division leaders, Prince Albert, were standing in their way.
The Warriors have been rather unimpressive to start the season.
Expected to be a serious contender for a Memorial Cup run the Warriors had found themselves in dead last place in the East Division, after the first 11 games.
The Prince Albert Raiders, on the other hand, had been surprisingly good and found themselves at the top of the division.
No better chance to turn the divisional tides than to defeat it’s leading team.
But Moose Jaw looked a bit shakey in Period One. They were soundly outplayed by Prince Albert and outshot 24-9.
However they were able to score twice and Jackson Unger was an impenetrable wall.
HERE IS BRAYDEN YAGER, WHEN HE MET THEOREN FLEURY AT THE WARRIORS GOLF CLASSIC - PHOTO CREDIT TWITTER
Brayden Yager scored the first one, for his 8th of the season, taking advantage of a fortunate bounce and a smooth pass from Ethan Semeniuk.
The goal game just twenty seconds into the game.
Jagger Firkus scored the second goal, his 8th of the season as well.
Firkus’ goal came when Denton Mateychuk hooked him up with a breakaway pass and he beat the Raiders goalie on the blocker side.
ONCE JAGGER FIRKUS LEADS THE WARRIORS TO THE PROMISED LAND HE’S GONNA DO THE SAME THING IN SEATTLE - PHOTO CREDIT TWITTER
These are the sort of perks that come with having elite-level scorers like Yager and Firkus on your team; you can take one third the amount of shots, and, with some solid goaltending, enter the dressing room with a multi-goal lead.
Moose Jaw got into a little bit of penalty trouble at the front end of Period Two.
The Raiders scored on the first Power Play (Ethan Hughes - Tripping).
They created a scramble in front of Unger and Cole Peardon buried a rebound.
The second Power Play, which came nearly immediately after the first one ended, was thanks an Andrej Tomasec slashing.
The tribe was able to quell the outburst and hang onto their lead.
Firkus, again, scored in the dwindling seconds of a period, re-instating that two-goal lead before wrapping the second frame up.
ALL ABOUT HATS
Less than a minute into the third period, after the Raiders had taken an Unsportsmanlike penalty, Firkus completed the Hat-Trick.
And that’s how it ended. Warriors win. 4-1.
Firkus and Mateychuk, who had three assists, were the top two Stars of the Game. Cole Peardon was third.
The Warriors next game is against Saskatoon, who became the division leader after Moose Jaw beat Prince Albert tonight.
So the theme will continue.
Moose Jaw is fighting their way to the top, one top team at a time.