Warriors Squander Fantastic Start
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We’re in the trenches now.
Your Moose Jaw Warriors have battled themselves into the deep waters of hockey grit.
They arrived at the Wayne Fleming arena, in Winnipeg, for Game 5 versus the leagues best Winnipeg Ice, with a chance to either take or give up a 3-2 series lead.
Warriors faithful knew that winning this series wouldn’t come easy. It was expected that, in order to win, they’d be tested to the fullest extent. So far they had been. So be it. This is war.
The first frame was delightful. It was all good guys. A volley of offence. An opening salvo.
First it was Jagger Firkus from Brayden Yager and then right after that it was Brayden Yager from Jagger Firkus.
On both goals they beat Ice starting goalie Daniel Hauser on his glove side. Weakness exposed. Chink in the armour. The Warriors were looking powerful early on.
They had a two goal lead at the end of the first period. But they still had a long, drawn out fracas ahead of them.
Brayden Yager and Jagger Firkus connected for two first period goals - photo credit Twitter
Winnipeg laced their collective skates tighter and used the second period as an opportunity to crawl back into the fray.
Connor Geekie scored at 2:27, with an assist from Jonas Woo, brother of Warriors alumni Jett Woo.
Jonas Woo set up a second period goal - via Elite Prospects
After a pair of penalties led to some fruitless but exciting 4-on-4 hockey, the Ice broke out again and evened the score.
Again, the goal scorer was Conor Geekie. Geekie had (almost) single-handedly changed the entire outlook of the game. The tribe had gotten a little too confident and Geekie geek
Conor Geekie had a monumental second period, scoring twice and one more in the third, for the Hat-Trick - photo credit Twitter
The Ice were a far better team in the second period and the scoreboard reflected that.
The Warriors were going to have to do a little soul-searching between periods; or at least a soul-stirring speech from General O’Leary.
They’d fatigued badly. They looked wounded. The enemy Ice could sense their weakness. Winnipeg had far more elan.
The Warriors played tough in the third period, but not so tough that they didn’t need to rely on a pair of stellar saves from Connor Ungar to keep things equal in regards to the score.
Ultimately though, Winnipeg did score. With five minutes left in regulation time the home team pulled ahead on Matthew Savoie’s ninth marker of the postseason.
The tribe’s backs were against a wall in this one. Would the Warriors be in fight or in flight?
All the early momentum to be squandered by a lacklustre second period. And a coin toss of a third. Winnipeg scored when they needed to the most. Winnipeg showed valour and determination when the stakes got higher.
I should say that I earlier predicted the key difference in this series would be Winnipeg’s resolve.
They were simply more consistent and composed in games and situations where it mattered the most. As was the case on Saturday night.
See: Warriors vs Ice: Series Breakdown
Conor Geekie even stuck them for one more, for good measure. Completing the Hat-Trick.
Then Zach Benson hit the empty net for another one. Massacre complete. Warriors lose the battle.
Winnipeg 5, Moose Jaw 2
One more loss and it’s all over for the tribe. The next game is the most important one of the season.
Game 6 is in Moose Jaw on Monday night.