Edmonton got break after break, with deflected pucks and random shots finding the back of the net and leading to an early edge.
But after so many games this campaign where that kind of result led to a loss, this time the Warriors were able to respond. And when things started rolling, they didn’t stop.
The Warriors overcame a 3-1 deficit with five straight goals in the second period and would go on to a 7-4 victory at Mosaic Place.
The win saw Moose Jaw move a game over .500 to 15-14-2-1 on the season, moving into a tie for third place in the East Division with the Saskatoon Blades, two points back of Brandon.
It was also the first time the team has been on the positive side of the win-loss ledger since the very first game of the season.
“It’s definitely exciting getting back over .500,” said Warriors forward Ryder Korczak, who had two goals and an assist in the contest. “Hopefully we can keep this position and go from there… We know we can play, we’re a fast team and if we use our speed things will go well, so that’s what we’ll try and do from now on.”
The Oil Kings got on the board first 7:25 into the game, and it was a pair of Moose Jaw Minor Hockey products who connected to make it happen -- Ethan Peters’ shot from the point redirected in front and into the top corner, with Jaxsen Wiebe drawing one of the assists.
Peters now has a goal and six points in 26 games this season, while Wiebe has three goals and 16 points in 18 games.
That edge held until just over five minutes remained in the first when Jagger Firkus tied things up, going in on a breakaway from centre ice and putting on a nifty stick-handling display before beating Edmonton starter Kolby Hay.
The second period started with a flurry of goals, beginning when Luke Prokop restored the Oil Kings’ lead 1:41 into the second period. It was a bit of a lucky one, too, with Prokop simply spinning and shooting a loose puck in the right face-off circle and having his shot find the top of the net. The goal came seconds after the Warriors had a glorious scoring chance of their own and just after Edmonton missed on a three-on-one.
The Oil Kings got another break two minutes later, when Carter Souch’s shot from the point went off of Josh Williams’ stick in front and found its way past Carl Tetachuk.
From that point on, the rest of the frame belonged to Moose Jaw.
“Obviously it took time to get our legs under us, but when we came out in the second period I think we played really well,” Korczak said.”It was just picking up where we left off, once we got the legs moving things started to take off.”
Firkus got the surge started 25 seconds after Williams’ goal, this time taking a feed from Max Wanner and getting off a shot in traffic in the slot that beat Hay high glove side.
Only 1:24 later, it was Korczak’s turn to hit the scoresheet, taking a feed out from the corner from Eric Alarie and finding himself alone in the slot. Korczak made no mistake, ripping a wrist shot top corner blocker side to tie the game 3-3.
The Warriors kept up the pressure and scored their third straight goal at 10:28, and it was a familiar-looking one for fans -- power play, Korczak to Firkus to Brayden Yager for the left-side one-timer, and just like that, 4-3 Moose Jaw.
Korczak -- the reigning WHL Player of the Week -- scored his second of the game with 5:55 to play in the period. Alarie had an outstanding chance to put the puck home after being left alone in the slot, and after his chance was stopped, Korczak was there to swat home the rebound.
As the league honour would indicate, Korczak has been on a bit of a roll as of late, with four goals and 13 points in the Warriors’ last five games.
“Having fun is the biggest thing,” he said when asked about the key to his sudden surge. “The confidence goes up when you’re having fun and coming to the rink with a smile on my face is one of the biggest things for me, I think.”
The Warriors capped their second-period run when Nathan Pilling finished off a scramble in front of the net for his third goal in as many games, with the power play marker at 16:25 giving the Warriors a three-goal edge heading into the third.
Logan Dowhaniuk got one back for Edmonton with 7:25 to play, with Peters springing him with a long pass from deep in his own zone to set up a two-on-one. Wiebe also drew his second assist on the play.
Firkus then finished off his hat trick with 2:35 remaining, with his centering pass going off an Edmonton player in front and behind Hay. He finished the night with three goals and an assist, while Alarie wound up with three helpers.
Tetachuk had a handful of big saves to give the Warriors the chance for their rally and capped the contest with 33 stops. Moose Jaw had 41 shots on Hay.
The Warriors are back in action Friday when they host the Red Deer Rebels. Game time is 7 p.m. at Mosaic Place.
OVERTIME… Moose Jaw’s success came with a caveat -- five Oil Kings were out of the line-up due to the World Junior Hockey Championship, including Arizona first-round draft pick Dylan Guenther, St. Louis first-rounder Jake Neighbours, Montreal first-rounder Kaiden Guhle and Detroit first-rounder Sebastian Cossa with Team Canada, along with Vegas fourth-rounder Jakub Demek with Slovakia… the Warriors were missing forward Martin Rysavy, who is currently playing at the World Juniors with Czechia… Warriors 2021 first-round draft pick Marek Howell took the ice for warm-ups in his first appearance with the WHL squad… the Warriors held a moment of silence prior to the game for longtime board member and team supporter Bob Calvert, who passed away on Dec. 22... Bob is the father of former Warriors goaltender Jeff Calvert and current Warriors forward Atley Calvert. He is also one of the driving forces behind the Moose Jaw Express and MooseJawToday,com.
