Portland Downs Warriors 5-2
The Moose Jaw Warriors scored the game’s first two goals Friday but the Portland Winterhawks went on to score five unanswered goals and went on to hand the Warriors a 5-2 loss at Mosaic Place.
Both teams utilized their speed throughout the opening period. They were quick on the attack and hard on pucks which resulted in turnovers and extra attack time.
Moose Jaw was first on the scoreboard when Jayden Halbgewachs fought the puck away from the Winterhawks below their goal line and fed Brett Howden in front of the net where he scored his fifth of the season at 10:48.
The Warriors found themselves on the power play shortly after and they were able to capitalize. With the puck on the Portland end boards, Luka Burzan and Tanner Jeannot dug it away for the Winterhawks penalty kills and connected with Ryan Bowen on top of the crease where he scored his second of the season.
29 seconds later the Winterhawks responded with a goal from Lane Gilliss to pull to within one, and then with just over three minutes left in the frame Portland’s Skyler McKenzie notched a power play to even the game at two heading to the first intermission.
In the second period the Winterhawks found another gear that gave the Warriors problems.
Portland outshot the Warriors 19-1 in the period, they picked up another goal from Skyler McKenzie and two from Cody Glass and took a 5-2 lead in to the third period.
The Warriors were a physical team in the third period as they tried to battle back but unfortunately weren’t able to find the back of the net and ended up suffering their first regulation loss of the regular season.
Moose Jaw’s four game in five day schedule comes to an end Saturday at Mosaic Place when they take on the Kootenay Ice. On Tuesday Nikita Popugaev had a goal and two points and Brody Willms made 31 saves in a 3-2 Warriors win at Western Financial Place in Cranbrook, BC.
Catch Warriors Hockey on Country 100 Saturday starting with the Westrum Lumber Timber Mart PreGame Show at 6:40pm with James Gallo, Derek Kletzel, and Marc Smith.
