The Moose Jaw Warriors had every opportunity to pick up a victory in Western Hockey League action in Brandon on Friday night, but a third-period let down shortly after taking the lead led to a 5-4 shootout loss to the Wheat Kings.
In other words, the season-long quest to find consistency not only from game-to-game but period-to-period continues.
The Warriors fell to 17-11-0-2 and with the single point move to within a point of the Medicine Hat Tigers for second place in the Eastern Conference.
Moose Jaw opened scoring only 45 seconds into the game, and it was bog-standard Jagger Firkus.
The Seattle Kraken prospect took a feed into the zone from Pavel McKenzie, beat his man to the outside and cut across the net before tucking the puck around Brandon goaltender Carson Bjarnason.
Warriors captain Denton Mateychuk picked up the second assist, extending his modern-day franchise-record point streak to 23 games, covering every game he’s played since returning to the Warriors from Columbus at the beginning of October.
The two teams exchanged a handful of chances as the period progressed, but Jackson Unger saved one of the best saves for last, getting cross crease to stop a backdoor pass to Roger McQueen with 30 seconds remaining.
The second period was lightning quick, and the Warriors would come out of the frame with the lead.
Brayden Schuurman scored his first of the game with 5:23 to play in the period, driving hard to the net on the rush and jamming the puck past Bjarnason.
Brandon tied things up early in the third when Jaxon Jacobson took advantage of a brutal turnover in the Warriors zone to score on a shot from the right faceoff circle, but the Warriors responded quickly.
Atley Calvert restored the lead only 37 seconds after Jacobson’s goal on a one-timer from Martin Rysavy and 48 seconds later, Schuurman popped home a rebound off a Lynden Lakovic hard-angle shot to make it 4-2 Warriors.
They wouldn’t be able to make it stick, as Jacobson scored his second with just over seven minutes remaining and Nate Danielson scored two minutes later to tie the game at four.
The rest of regulation was scoreless, sending things to overtime.
There, Mateychuk had the best chance to win the game outright when he had a breakaway with two minutes remaining, but Bjarnason would make the save.
The Warriors also had a late power play in overtime but wouldn’t be able to find the winning goal.
That all led to the shootout, where Jayden Wiens would score in the eighth round to give Brandon the victory.
Unger faced 40 shots in taking the loss, the Warriors had 31 on the Wheat Kings.
The Warriors are back in action on Saturday against the Saskatoon Blades on Teddy Bear Toss Night. Fans are asked to bring a new unwrapped toy, toque or mittens to throw on the ice after the Warriors’ first goal, with all items being donated to the Salvation Army for those less fortunate during the Christmas holidays.
Game time is 7 p.m. at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
