Unger backstops Warriors to shutout win in Red Deer
Jackson Unger’s first Western Hockey League win was one to remember on Friday night.
In just his second WHL start, Unger turned away all 30 shots he faced in a 4-0 shutout win over the Red Deer Rebels at the Peavy Mart Centrium.
Jagger Firkus and Daemon Hunt had two goals each in the win for Moose Jaw as the Warriors bounced back from a tough loss in Calgary to open its three-game road trip.
The win improves the Warriors’ record to 11-11-1-1 this season and moves them just one point back of Saskatoon for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
Firkus opened the scoring just past the midway point of the first period. He rifled a shot top shelf over the glove of Red Deer goalie Chase Coward for his tenth of the season.
Jagger Firkus' tenth of the season is a beauty!#AllInTogether | @firkus_jagger https://t.co/q4EQB51o3P pic.twitter.com/8XOSjvkGzx
— Moose Jaw Warriors (@MJWARRIORS) December 4, 2021
The Warriors’ 17-year-old forward would add to the lead midway through the second period when he repeated his first goal, going bar down to make it 2-0 on his 11th of the year.
Jagger Firkus has all the cookies.
Firkus goes bar down again for his second of the night and 11th of the season!#AllInTogether | @firkus_jagger https://t.co/vhGJ2RUQo2 pic.twitter.com/MpIeCF0Du0
— Moose Jaw Warriors (@MJWARRIORS) December 4, 2021
Warriors captain Daemon Hunt gave the team some more breathing room 4:45 into the third period when he scored his eighth of the season, firing a one-timer into the back of the net.
The Captain puts the Warriors up by three with his eight of the season!#AllInTogether | @DaemonHunt22 https://t.co/PPgHLRoTU2 pic.twitter.com/jzQlFsFQxW
— Moose Jaw Warriors (@MJWARRIORS) December 4, 2021
Hunt picked up an empty net goal with 2:02 left to play in regulation, sealing the win for Moose Jaw.
Unger made 12 big saves in the first period, followed that up with ten more in the second period and finished off his big night with eight saves in the third period for his first career shutout.
Your best penalty killer needs to be your goaltender and Jackson Unger did his part on this save!#AllInTogether | @JackUnger6 pic.twitter.com/8svfGR7aTV
— Moose Jaw Warriors (@MJWARRIORS) December 4, 2021
Cade Hayes and Brayden Yager had two assists each for Moose Jaw, while Denton Mateychuk and Matthew Gallant added one helper each.
The Warriors were outshot 30-25 by the Rebels in the win.
Moose Jaw also went 1-for-6 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill on the night.
The Warriors will now close out their three games in three nights road trip against the Oil Kings in Edmonton on Saturday night. Puck drops at 8 p.m. CST.
Tune into all the action on Country 100, starting with the Pre-Game Show at 7:40 p.m.
