Throughout their recent run of success, the Moose Jaw Warriors forwards and defencemen have received all sorts of attention -- the former for their increased scoring depth, the rearguards for their continued solid work at both ends of the ice.
And through it all, Warriors goaltender Carl Tetachuk has just done his thing.
That being a steady and solid showing night in and night out, big saves where they were needed and exactly the kind of performance you’d expect from a four-year veteran.
On Saturday night, it was Tetachuk’s turn to take the spotlight.
The overage netminder made a host of outstanding stops through the first two periods -- a breakaway, couple of saves on bad defensive zone turnovers, post-to-post blocks on cross-crease power play guaranteed goals -- and gave his teammates every chance to win.
That’s exactly what the Warriors would do, going on to a 3-1 victory over the Swift Current Broncos in Swift Current in Western Hockey League action.
Tetachuk ended up with 26 saves on the night, recording his 20th win of the season.
The Warriors improved to 24-16-3-1 for their seventh straight victory and now have points in eight of their last 10 games. They sit five points back of Red Deer for third in the Eastern Conference, four points up on Saskatoon.
Josh Filmon got the Broncos on the board with 1:25 remaining in the opening period, taking a pass off the boards from Braden Lewis after a failed clearing attempt and finishing off his one-time shot from the slot five hole.
Atley Calvert -- who had a hat trick in the Warriors’ previous outing against Regina -- replied for the Warriors a little over two minutes into the second, taking a feed from Nathan Pilling on a breakout and beating Isaac Poulter with a shot glove side from the left face-off dot.
The Warriors then took the lead with 6:27 left in the second, taking advantage of their first power play of the game when Eric Alarie took a feed from the blueline from Max Wanner and got a quick shot off that found its way home.
Alarie then scored his second with 4:08 into the third, and it was as slick a two-on-one as they’ve had this season -- a turn-over in the Warriors zone, breakout with Robert Baco, pass across after the Broncos defender dove to block, shot top corner, goal.
That would cap scoring in the contest, and the Warriors would go on to their two-goal win.
Calvert also drew an assist on Alarie’s first goal, giving him six goals and 11 points in his last seven games.
The Warriors finished with 28 shots on Poulter.
Moose Jaw returns to action on Saturday when they travel to Medicine Hat to face the Tigers. Game time is 8 p.m. Moose Jaw time.
