When the Moose Jaw Warriors faced the Winnipeg Ice in the final meeting of the regular season between the two teams, things were eerily similar to Game 1 of the Western Hockey League Eastern Conference semifinal on Friday night.
Taking on the ice at the Wayne Fleming Arena in Winnipeg, the Warriors would fall behind 3-0 in the first, score late to get within two, tie game 3-3 in the second and eventually take a 6-4 victory.
And through the first period and a half on Friday, that’s exactly how things played out.
Only this time, Winnipeg had an answer.
The ice would score twice early in the third period and would go on to a 5-3 victory in the opening game of the best-of-seven series.
It ddn’t take long for things to get going in Game 1.
Winnipeg created an odd-man rush on their first possession of the game, and Jagger Firkus was forced to take a penalty to break up the golden scoring chance. The Ice would make the most of the first-minute opportunity, as Connor Pederson finished off some good puck movement in the zone to give Winnipeg a 1-0 lead 1:04 into the series.
The Ice then made it a 2-0 game with 7:57 gone in the period, with Zach Benson redirecting a Connor Geekie shot in front that slipped five-hole on Connor Ungar and into the net.
Winnipeg caught another break with their third goal of the period, as Pederson’s wrap-around attempt slipped off his stick, only for Matthew Savoie to put home the loose puck from the top of the crease.
The Warriors got one back before the period was out after a host of chances in the previous minutes. Martin Rysavy forced a turnover behind the net and found Brayden Yager with a pass in the high slot, and the 2023 NHL Draft prospect would put a shot home blocker side on Daniel Hauser with 22 seconds remaining in the frame.
Moose Jaw then pulled to within one with 4:09 gone in the second, and it featured some slick puck work in the Winnipeg zone. Ben Riche found Ryder Korczak with a pass to the left wing, and he sent a cross-zone pass to a pinching Max Wanner, who would make no mistake with a shot down low to make it a 3-2 game.
The Warriors then completed the comeback at 13:21 of the period, with some good work down low leading to Jagger Firkus finishing off an Atley Calvert cross-crease pass by banking a shot in off Hauser.
The tie didn’t last far into the third period.
Karter Prosofsky led a rush down the right wing and would find McClennon for the tip in at the top of the crease, restoring the Ice lead 2:59 into the final frame.
Three minutes later, Graham Sward would find the back of the net on a point shot that found its way through traffic to give Winnipeg a 5-3 edge, and that’s where things would finish up.
Ungar finished the game with 32 saves, while Hauser had 26 stops at the other end of the ice.
Game 2 is set for Saturday night, with puck drop at 5 p.m. Moose Jaw time. Watch parties are being held at the Crushed Can and Bugsy’s.
Tickets are on sale for Games 3 and 4 at the Moose Jaw Events Centre at www.sasktix.ca.
