For the Blades, it was the exact opposite, as the bounces and breaks they didn’t get in Boston Bilous’ shutout on Apr. 2 went their way this time around as Saskatoon would take a 4-2 victory in the East Division Hub in Regina.
Warriors head coach Mark O’Leary said in the post game Zoom interview that while the start was slow, he was happy with how things progressed in the game for his squad, especially as they generated chances in the second and third period -- the effort was there, if the results weren’t.
Koen MacInnes was a major difference in the game, as the Blades goaltender made a handful of spectacular saves on golden scoring chances throughout the night.
How do you deal with that? More shots, more pressure and just keep working hard.
O’Leary pointed to the difference in the first period compared to the rest of the game. The few chances MacInnes faced in the first were largely open looks and easy saves, which made things comfortable. As the game played out and there were more bodies around the net and more chances came the Warriors way, he was forced to scramble more and make unlikely saves.
Another night, some of those go in, and it’s a different game.
There was nothing MacInnes could do on the first goal of the game, though.
Brayden Yager opened scoring at 10:59 with his fourth goal of the season, and it was a beauty, too boot. The 15-year-old forward took a pass from Denton Mateychuk and beat his Blades defender wide before lifting a shot from the top of the crease over MacInnes’ blocker.
Saskatoon’s Tristen Robins was able to take advantage of an opportunistic turnover in the Warriors end to get his team on the board 1:19 later, as he intercepted a pass from behind the net and went in alone on Bilous and tied the game.
Robins gave the Blades the lead with five minutes left in the period, with his seeing-eyed shot from the top of the circle finding the back of the net.
Saskatoon picked up where they left off with pressure in the Moose Jaw zone in the second period, and Wyatt McLeod was the beneficiary as he blasted a shot from the blueline through a screen to make it 3-1 Blades 1:25 in.
The Warriors got one back on the power play with 2:03 remaining in the second, as Tate Popple batted home a bouncing puck after taking a slick backhand pass from a falling Jagger Firkus at the side of the net.
Moose Jaw had an opportunity tie the game with a power play early in the third, but Kyle Crnkovic would score shorthanded to put Saskatoon ahead 4-2 with 1:10 gone.
Boston Bilous made 24 saves for the Warriors, while MacInnes would finish with 28 stops for Saskatoon.
Eric Alarie picked up two assists for the Warriors.
The Warriors fell to 7-8-1-0 with the loss and remain tied for fourth in the division with Regina. The Blades improved to 11-2-2-0 and are tied for first place with Brandon.
Moose Jaw will now have two days off before taking on the Wheat Kings on Tuesday. Game time is 4 p.m.
