The hockey gods apparently decided Saturday afternoon was the time to put the skate on the other foot.
The Warriors outshot the Saskatoon Contacts 47-23 and carried the play much of the game but were only able to solve goaltender Ethan Chadwick a couple of times as they dropped a 4-2 decision at Mosaic Place.
The loss snapped the aforementioned winning streak and saw Moose Jaw fall to 20-7-1-0 while continuing to hold a two-point lead over the Contacts for the first place in the 12-team league.
Saskatoon took a 1-0 lead out of the first period on a goal by Brayden Yager before Ty Spencer made it 2-0 5:10 into the second. True to form, the Warriors weren’t about to go down without a fight.
Ben Wourms-Rowe scored on the power play with 7:20 remaining in the second to get the Tribe back within one, and Connor McGrath would tie the game with nine minutes left to play to set up another close finish between the two teams.
The tie wouldn’t even last a minute, though, as Logan Bairos would score the eventual game winner on a quick shot from in close over the shoulder of Warriors goaltender Dylan Ersnt only 20 seconds after McGrath’s marker.
Ty Albrecht added an empty net goal with 50 seconds to play.
Ernst would make 19 saves for the Warriors while Chadwick was exceptionally busy at the other end of the ice with a 45-save performance.
The Warriors are back in action Sunday afternoon when they host the Regina Pat Canadians in another showdown between two of the SMAAAHL’s top teams. Game time is 1:30 p.m. at Mosaic Place.
