Ice Ride Blizzard To Victory
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It’s easy to wonder whether it’s a bad omen that Moose Jaw was graced with a horrific mid-April blizzard while the visiting Winnipeg Ice were in town for a playoff hockey game.
Ice fell from the sky while the Ice entered the Moose Jaw Events Centre on Wednesday evening for Game 4 of the East Division Semi-Finals.
The Warriors were coming into the game having won 2 straight against the Ice, including an 8-4 blowout the night before.
The Ice, on the other hand, came into the Game needing, badly, a victory in the enemy’s barn.
Winnipeg did score first.
It was Vladislav Shilo, the Belorussian, who broke the deadlock mid way through the first period.
The Warriors are playing great post-season hockey.
One guy who has been notably excellent during this playoff run has been Martin Rysavy, the Columbus Blue Jackets prospect.
In the 12th minute Rysavy scored, beating Daniel Hauser with a wrist-shot.
That is the third consecutive game in which Rysavy has scored, and his fifth of the postseason.
He’s outscoring everyone but Jagger Firkus and Brayden Yager. The game was all tied and that’s how the First Period wrapped up.
Martin Rysavy scored for the third straight game - photo credit Dobber Prospects
Winnipeg got serious to kick off the middle frame.
Matthew Savoie scored less than a minute in.
It was the second straight goal in which hot shot defenceman Ben Zloty recorded an assist.
Even after the goal, it was all Winnipeg. They were all over the Warriors, showing a ton more energy and aggression.
Ben Zloty is Winnipeg’s premier defenceman assisted in all 3 Ice goals - photo credit Twitter
The Warriors’ backs were against the wall.
They needed a productive response.
And that’s exactly what they got.
Connor Ungar did everything in his power to dispel the Ice attack and the the Firkus Circus came to town early in Period 3. Firkus now has a team leading 8 postseason tallies.
Jagger Firkus scored his 8th of the playoffs - photo credit Elite Prospects
The game went into overtime and unfortunately, this time, it was the Ice who come out as the victors.
Zach Ostapchuk scored the winner eleven minutes in, crushing the hopes and dreams of the Warriors faithful.
The Ice rode the ice storm out to its final conclusion. Once again Ben Zloty assisted on the play.
Senators prospect Zach Ostapchuk scored the OT winner - photo credit Twitter
Winnipeg 3, Moose Jaw 2
Moose Jaw played well but came up short in a competitive Game 4.
The only thing to do now is keep them chins up and bounce back in Game 5, which is in Winnipeg on Saturday night.