You won’t find a more back-and-forth hockey game than what the Moose Jaw Winmar Warriors and Saskatoon Blazers put together on Wednesday night.
The two teams combined for six goals in the final period, including four in the final five minutes, before the Warriors would take a 6-5 win in overtime in Sask Male AAA Hockey League action in Saskatoon.
The win was the second straight for the Warriors and moved the local squad within a game of .500 at 7-8-0-3 on the season, good enough for seventh place in the 12-team league. The Warriors are two points back of the Prince Albert Mintos and a point up on the Estevan Bears.
Things looked good early for the Warriors in Saskatoon, as Liam Fitzpatrick scored twice in the opening period to give Moose Jaw a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.
Ryder Knutson made it 3-0 with a power play goal midway through the second, but the Blazers would begin their first comeback before the period was out.
Tyson Yaremko scored for Saskatoon with 1:19 to play in the second, and was followed by Josh Knittig and Lee Shurgot midway through the third period to tie the game 3-3.
That set the stage for a wild finish between the two teams.
Dylan Duzan and Jake Britlz got things started, scoring just over a minute apart with 5:47 and 3:39 to play in the game to give Moose Jaw a 5-3 lead. That wouldn’t be enough, though, as Corban Almen made it a one-goal game with 1:59 to play and Yaremko sent things to overtime with 25 seconds left in regulation.
Fitzpatrick got things done in dramatic fashion the extra period, finishing off his hat trick and giving the Warriors the 6-5 win with 18 seconds remaining.
Fitzpatrick ended up with a four-point night, while Briltz added two assists to his goal.
Ryan Bain was busy in the Warriors’ net with 41 saves, while Saskatoon’s Alex Garrett made 22 stops.
The Winmar Warriors are back in action this weekend for a two-game set with the Prince Albert Mintos in Prince Albert, with the first game at 7 p.m. Saturday and second at 1:30 p.m. Sunday from the Art Hauser Centre.
Next home action for the Warriors is Saturday, Dec. 10 against the Regina Pat Canadians.
