PREVIEW: Warriors expecting more tough match-ups this weekend
With just 13 games remaining in the regular season, the Moose Jaw Warriors are in the thick of a race for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference.
Moose Jaw holds down fourth place with a one-point lead over the Saskatoon Blades.
The Warriors got a good taste of playoff hockey last weekend in a pair of hard fought games, dropping a 5-3 contest to Prince Albert last Friday and then bouncing back to beat Brandon, 6-5, on Saturday.
“Those were two different games, but still two hard games,” Warriors head coach Mark O’Leary said.
“Big picture we’re real happy with what we had to go through over the course of the weekend. You talk about preparing for playoffs and no better way to do it than to go through the ups and downs that was the last weekend.”
Saturday’s win was just the second time that the Warriors have won this season when trailing after 40 minutes.
O’Leary said the Warriors’ coaching staff has been keeping their messaging consistent in order to keep the players’ mindset the same no matter what they’re going through in a game.
“You take a look at that early goal in the third period against Brandon, nothing changed on the bench, we just got right back to work and that’s the most important thing,” he said.
“We’ve been getting up fast all year long and nothing changes, regardless of circumstances.”
Coming up this weekend, the Warriors will face two hungry teams when the Calgary Hitmen and Lethbridge Hurricanes come to Mosaic Place.
Both teams will be at the end of a busy week, each playing four games in five nights through the East Division.
O’Leary said starting strong in both games will be key.
“We pride ourselves on being a fast team and it’s going to be really important for both Friday and Saturday,” he said.
The Warriors face the Hitmen for the final time this season on Friday night and O’Leary said executing when you have an opportunity is key against Calgary.
“Looking back at our games against them in the past, when we’ve had success, we’ve capitalized early and then rode that momentum throughout, so we’ll look to have a fast start and ride it from there.”
The Warriors and Hitmen face-off at 7 p.m. on Friday night at Mosaic Place for Fan Appreciation Night.
Then on Saturday, the Warriors and Hurricanes battle in downtown Moose Jaw.
Tune into all the action on Country 100, starting with the Pre-Game Show at 6:40 p.m. and WHL Live where the IKS Media Warriors Live Pre-Game Show begins at 6:50 p.m.
