With the way things have been going for the Moose Jaw WINMAR Warriors in the Sask Male AAA Hockey League as of late, one single mistake can lead to a tough loss.
That was exactly the case on Saturday afternoon at the Moose Jaw Events Centre, as a turnover in the offensive zone late in the third period led to the Saskatoon Contacts scoring the game-winning goal and going on to a 3-2 victory.
The loss came on the heels of a tough 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Tisdale Trojans less than 24 hours earlier.
Through it all, the Warriors are still in a playoff spot, as their 16-15-2-0 record is good enough for a tie for seventh with Tisdale, five points up on Battlefords and four points back of Prince Albert for fourth.
“I thought it was a good game, but we gave up some opportunities we have to be better at,” Warriors head coach Trevor Weisgerber said after Sunday’s contest. “We’re 32 games into the season and we’re giving up chances we were fixing two games in. A lot of that is focus, like on the third goal where we just have to make a stronger play instead of just giving it to them for the go-ahead goal.”
Spencer Chestolowski scored the game-winner with 9:59 to play, intercepting an outlet pass in the Warriors zone and promptly putting a shot top shelf blocker side on Warriors goaltender Luke McKechnie.
Moose Jaw had chances to tie the game in the final 10 minutes, including great opportunities from Briltz and Keaton Lesperance, but were unable to finish things off.
“There are some guys who have been snakebit here, but we just have to be better all around,” Weisgerber said. “We need a group effort and we have too many guys taking nights off and that has to stop.. At the end of the day, they have to dig deep and figure this out as a group. We’re in a playoff spot right now, but we can’t keep doing this and expecting to stay there.”
Caleb Potter had given Moose Jaw a 1-0 lead only 52 seconds into the game, but Rhett Ewen and Davey Fisher scored for Saskatoon before the period was out.
Briltz then tied the game 3:27 into the third, setting the stage for Saskatoon’s game-winner.
McKechnie had a good game otherwise, stopping 22 shots, including a huge breakaway save on Rylan Hue as the Warriors pressed for the game-tying goal.
The Warriors had 25 shots on Logan Edmonstone.
Things weren’t as close one night earlier.
Dayton Reschny had a hat trick and four points to lead Tisdale to their four-goal win. Simon Martin and Carter Geysen had the other goals for the Trojans, who led 2-0 after the first and 4-0 through two.
Noah Thul had Moose Jaw’s lone goal 1:24 into the third period.
Ryan Bain faced 37 shots in the loss, Jackson Dunn stopped 25 for Tisdale.
The WINMAR Warriors were back in action Monday when they travelled to Saskatoon to face the Blazers and Tuesday in Swift Current. Next home action is Saturday when the Warriors host the Regina Pat Canadians. Game time is 7 p.m. at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
