Warriors roll to Game 2 win; Take 2-0 series lead

Moose Jaw, SK – The Moose Jaw Warriors made sure only three periods would be needed on Saturday night to knock off the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

One night after a double overtime Game 1 thriller, the Warriors cruised to a 5-1 win over the Hurricanes in Game 2 at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.

“[In Game 1], they came out flying and we were expecting that again today, but I thought we held our ground, we pushed back a little bit and we came out with the 5-1 win, so that was nice,” Warriors forward Ryder Korczak said after the game.

Moose Jaw now leads 2-0 in the best-of-seven first round series against Lethbridge with the series shifting to the ENMAX Centre for games three and four on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Warriors came out firing, scoring in each period, including three in the third to seal the win.

Lucas Brenton had a pair of goals, while Korczak, Atley Calvert and Denton Mateychuk also scored in the win.

Jagger Firkus finished with three assists. Logan Dowhaniuk and Martin Rysavy picked up two helpers each on the night.

“We’re doing a really good job of limiting what they were getting as far as dangerous chances,” Warriors assistant coach Scott King said. “We played a strong game, didn’t give them a whole lot, did a pretty good job of creating and getting inside and shooting the puck, so lots of good things tonight.”

Calvert opened the scoring with a power play goal with 6:54 left in the first period.

Korczak added to the Warriors’ lead when he snapped home his first of the playoffs with 8:28 gone in the second.

Midway through the third, Brenton banged home a rebound in front for his first of the night, which made it 3-0 with 8:42 to play.

The Hurricanes were able to cut the lead back down to two 6:18 left in the third, but Mateychuk answered back for the Warriors with a highlight reel goal only 47 seconds later.

Brenton blasted home his second of the night 1:39 later to seal the win for the Warriors.

Connor Ungar wasn’t busy, making 21 saves, but he was sharp on some close chances for the Hurricanes throughout the night.

“We’re doing a really good job defensively of being pretty stingy,” King said. “We’re not letting them get inside and pressuring and taking time and space away.”

With a 2-0 lead heading into Lethbridge for the next two games, Korczak said the Warriors will reset for those two games.

“Tomorrow’s a new day, we’ve got to think of it like it’s a 0-0 series,” he said. “If we come out like we did tonight, we’re going to be pretty successful there in their barn.”

Game 3 goes on Tuesday in Lethbridge.