Things have changed a touch since that weekend in late September.
After starting the campaign with a 5-1-1-0 record – including two wins over Brandon in that series -- and sitting at 9-7-1-0 in early November, the Warriors have managed only two wins, going 2-20-1-0 over that span.
Brandon, meanwhile, came into Mosaic Place on Saturday night riding the highest of highs: nine straight wins and only one loss in their last 10 as they continued to chase down the division leaders.
So it didn’t come as much of a surprise when things played out exactly as the standings would predict.
The Wheat Kings scored five second-period goals -- including three in a span of 2:44 midway through the period -- on their way to a 6-0 win in Western Hockey League action.
Thing is, the Warriors were better in the early going than they were the night before in a 3-2 loss to Prince George. But that one second period breakdown…
“In that first period, we came out and were playing really well, doing everything right and then in the second period I think we got a little too loose and kind of went away from our game,” said Warriors defenceman Nolan Jones. “Stuff like that happens and it will cost you.
“They’re a very good team, a lot of skilled guys, so you have to keep up with them and as soon as you get away from your game they’ll get on you really quick.”
And how.
Despite the number of Warriors he had to contend with around the net, Brandon’s Ben McCartney still managed to chip the puck into the net past Boston Bilous.Ben McCartney opened scoring 7:59 into the second period, and with the two teams playing four-on-four three minutes later, the Wheaties would blow things open.
Connor Gutenberg, Luka Burzan and Lynden McCallum all scored from 10:30 to 12:14, and McCallum added his second of the game with 2:15 left in the period.
Even more strange? The Warriors outshot Brandon 15-11 in the period and led 28-21 on the clock through two periods.
“I think we shot ourselves in the foot, the turning point was the penalty we took on the power play to go to four-on-four and they scored a couple of quick ones,” said Warriors coach Mark O’Leary. “It was a small stretch, not even a full period that let us down tonight. Then going back to yesterday, it was the start of the game that hurt us. So it’s just these little stretches and we have to learn that’s all it takes sometimes… you want to try and learn something every night but that’s what we took away from this weekend. You have to be ready to go right from the start and you can’t have little blips here and there or it’ll cost you.”
Warriors captain Owen Hardy fires a pass cross ice around Brandon’s Ty Thorpe.Boston Bilous got the start in goal and made 12 saves through 32:14 before giving way to Brock Gould, who made 22 saves the rest of the way.
Brandon, meanwhile, had 35 saves from Ethan Kruger for their fourth shutout of the month and Kruger’s third of the season.
The Warriors fell to 11-27-2-0 on the season and now sit two points ahead of last-place Swift Current, seven back of Regina and 23 points back of Saskatoon for the final playoff spot.
Moose Jaw returns to action Wednesday when they host the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Game time is 7 p.m. at Mosaic Place.
