Moose Jaw Edges Kamloops 4-3
Brayden Point scored a hat trick Friday, leading the Moose Jaw Warriors to a 4-3 win over Kamloops at Interior Savings Centre.
Kamloops utilized their speed to attack the Warriors zone early in the game but Zach Sawchenko was sharp, turning away the Blazers on all opportunities.
Four and a half minutes in to the period and on the power play, Dustin Perillat put a shot wide of the Kamloops net, goalie Connor Ingram was stuck on top of his crease as the puck came off the end boards and to Brayden Point on the right goal line where he chipped in his 24th of the year.
Moose Jaw went up by a pair with just over seven minutes remaining in the period. Point led a two-on-two rush up the ice with Tanner Eberle. With the Captain on the left wing he cut to the middle of the Blazer zone and used Eberle as a decoy, Point let a shot go that beat Ingram blocker side for his second of the period.
To start the second period the Blazers got into penalty problems, handing the Warriors four power plays including a lengthy two-man advantage. On their fourth power play the Warriors moved the puck around the Blazer zone, between the circles Axel Blomqvist moved the puck to Brett Howden inside the right circle who then quickly fed Jack Rodewald for a one-timer to make it 3-0 at the nine minute mark.
14 seconds later Blazers leading scorer Cole Ully drove down the Moose Jaw right wall and crashed the Warriors net, finishing the play with his 29th. 20 seconds later Joel Hamilton cashed in on a wraparound to make it 3-2.
With under five minutes to go in the period Brayden Point showcased his skill. Point came across the Kamloops line, put the puck between his legs then danced around the Blazers defenseman. The Captain came to the bottom left circle then drove the net, deking out the goaltender for his hat trick goal.
Kamloops tried to claw back in the game in the final period, they outshot the Warriors 14-5 in the frame and managed a goal in the final minute to cut the deficit to within one. In the final moments the Warriors were able to hold on for the narrow win.
Brayden Point had three goals for the Warriors, Axel Blomqvist and Dustin Perillat had two assists, and Zach Sawchenko made 31 saves. Joel Hamilton led the Blazers with two goals. Moose Jaw finished 2-for-6 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill.
Moose Jaw’s season high seven game road trip concludes Saturday with a trip up to Prince George for their only meeting of the season against the Cougars. Last season Prince George edged the Warriors 2-1 January 31st in Moose Jaw. Josh Uhrich scored the lone Warriors goal, Todd Fiddler and Marc McNulty had the tallies for the Cougars.
Two years ago in Prince George the Cougars beat the Warriors 2-1 on December 4, 2012. Sam Fioretti scored the only Moose Jaw goal, while Jarrett Fontaine and Daulton Siwak notched goals for the Cougars.
Moose Jaw’s last win over the Cougars was a 6-0 decision October 10, 2011 in Mosaic Place. That night Andrew Johnson had a goal and three points, Collin Bowman and Torrin White had two goals each, Carter Hansen had a goal and two points, and Tanner Eberle and Joe Kornelsen had two assists each.
Catch all the action from CN Centre in Prince George Saturday starting with the Country 100 Westrum Lumber Timber Mart PreGame Show at 8:40pm.
