The Moose Jaw WINMAR Warriors are back in the win column, and they have a bit of late-game heroics to thank for it.
Ryan Gibbs scored with 2:31 to play in regulation to snap a 2-2 tie and the Warriors would go on to a 4-2 victory over the Saskatoon Contacts in Sask Male AAA Hockey League action in Saskatoon.
The win snapped a two-game skid for Moose Jaw and saw the local crew improve to 18-17-3-0, good enough for a tie for sixth in the 12-team league.
Brennan Brown scored the lone goal in the first period, with his power-play marker coming with 3:52 to play in the frame to give Moose Jaw a 1-0 lead.
The lead didn’t last long into the second, as Saskatoon’s Samuel Wardell tied the game only 1:04 into the frame, but Dylan Duzan got that one right back with a power play marker 33 seconds later.
The goal was Duzan’s 22nd of the season and 45th point, good enough for fifth in SMAAAHL league scoring, three points out of third.
Jace Rask would reply for the Contacts with 10:44 to play in the period, setting up the dramatic finish.
Bryce Boughen -- who assisted on the game-winner -- scored an empty-netter with 13 seconds remaining and had three points in the game. Gibbs also capped his contest with a pair of assists to go with his goal.
Luke McKechnie stopped 30 shots to earn the win, while Logan Edmonstone turned aside 28 for the Contacts.
The WINMAR Warriors are currently five points back of Prince Albert for fifth and are back in action on Thursday when they host the Regina Pat Canadians. Game time is 7 p.m. at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
