Warriors Win Goaltender Duel, Take Series Lead

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Postseason hockey is here and your Moose Jaw Warriors were at the Hangar for Game 1 of a Best-of-Seven series with the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

For a full breakdown on the series click here.

It’s worth noting that the four players who had been serving suspensions, Connor Ungar, Max Wanner, Lynden Lakovic and Marek Howell, were all in the lineup for Friday nights series opener.

Moose Jaw treated the hometown fans to their Penalty Kill early on. Getting booked twice in the first six minutes.

Thankfully the defence was stellar and blanked the Canes on both opportunities.

The Warriors had a Power Play for themselves a bit later that they also couldn’t capitalize on and that’s about as exciting as things got in the opening frame.

Logan Dowhaniuk broke the deadlock early in the second period.

He was in the right place, at the right time and snapped a shot past the Canes’ stellar Moose Javian goaltender Bryan Thompson.

Logan Dowhaniuk scored first - photo credit Twitter

Lethbridge’s top scorer, Cole Shepard, energized his club, by scoring short-handed, eight minutes later, tying the game.

The rest of the game was highlighted by absolutely spectacular goaltending from both keepers. Thomson made 52 saves and Connor Ungar made 50, in his triumphant return.

Bryan Thomson was near impossible to score on - photo credi Elite Prospects

There was a moment in the first overtime frame where everyone in the building believed Marek Howell had won the game.

His shot from the point got behind Thomson and even triggered the goal light.

But upon further review it was decided the puck never crossed the line.

Connor Ungar was fantastic in his return.

The game went into a second overtime period before Jagger Firkus scored one of the more memorable goals in the franchises recent history.

Brayden Yager ripped a shot off Thomson’s pads but Firkus was there to put the rebound over his shoulder.

There was only 17 seconds remaining on the clock.

Jagger Firkus scored the Double OT winner - photo credit Twitter

Despite the long, gruelling battle, the hometown crowd was electric in celebration.

Moose Jaw wins 2-1 and takes a 1-0 lead in the series.

Ungar, Thomson and Firkus were the game’s 3 Stars.

Game 2 is tonight at the Hangar.