Sawchenko Backstops Warriors To Tuesday Win
Zach Sawchenko made 41 saves Tuesday to lead the Moose Jaw Warriors to a 3-1 win over the Prince Albert Raiders at Mosaic Place.
Prince Albert was aggressive to start the game, they were able to break up a lot of Warriors breakout attempts from inside their zone, and their fore-check created extra attack time and scoring opportunities.
Warriors’ goalie Zach Sawchenko’s biggest save of the period came six and a half minutes in to the game, with Prince Albert on the power play they set up Simon Stransky for a shot at the bottom of the right circle, Sawchenko dove across his crease to deny the Raiders leading scorer with a glove save.
Prince Albert outshot the Warriors 12-3 in the first ten minutes and 14-7 after the opening period.
Moose Jaw was a much better team in the second period as they were finally able to come up the ice and pressure Raiders goalie Nicholas Sanders.
Just over two minutes in to the period Jayden Halbgewachs skated down the Raiders right wall and skated around the defenseman and cut to the goal line. 19-year-old waited for Sanders to go down and then he slid the puck to the back of the net for his tenth goal of the season.
Prince Albert answered back four minutes later with a goal from Luke Coleman to tie the game at one.
With four minutes left in the period Halbgewachs was given a penalty shot but wasn’t able to shoot the puck past Sanders, keeping the game tied at one after two period.
Moose Jaw outshot the Raiders 14-6 in the second period and held a 21-20 advantage after forty minutes.
Four minutes in to the third period Warriors 20-year-old defenseman Josh Thrower broke up a Raiders breakout at the Prince Albert blueline. Thrower threw a wrist shot towards the net that went in-and-out of the glove of Sanders, Halbgewachs gathered the rebound at the right goal line and snap in his second of the game to give Moose Jaw the lead.
Prince Albert tried desperately for an equalizer in the final period, they tossed 22 shots at the Warriors net but Zach Sawchenko turned them away. Tanner Jeannot added an empty net goal in the final moments and the Warriors improved their record to 9-3-2 with the 3-1 win.
Moose Jaw busy schedule this week continues Wednesday with their second trip of the season to Brandon for their third meeting of the season against the Wheat Kings. This will be these division rivals first meeting since opening weekend. Warriors Hockey returns to Country 100 starting with the Westrum Lumber Timber Mart PreGame Show at 5:40pm.
