Tribe Losses Tight Game in Calgary
Sunday night the Moose Jaw Warriors went toe-to-toe with the Calgary Hitmen but came up short losing 3-2 at Scotiabank Saddledome.
Moose Jaw outshot the Hitmen 5-2 in the early stages of the first period but Calgary got the rewards. With a delayed penalty coming to the Warriors, Calgary set up Kenton Helgeson for a shot between the circles that beat Justin Paulic to make it 1-0 at 7:49.
The first period saw both teams create opportunities. Moose Jaw’s transition game was quick up the ice while attacking the Hitmen net. Calgary relied on their play below the Warriors goal line, forcing the puck into the slot for shots.
Moose Jaw pressured Calgary into committing turnovers early in the second which led to their tribe’s first goal. Miles Warkentine broke up a Calgary rush then fed Alexander Chirva in between the circles for shot. The puck bounced off the pads of Chris Driedger right to Sam Fioretti who scored his eighth of the season to tie the game at one.
Approaching the midway point of the second Brayden Point battled hard along the Calgary end boards, Point pushed the puck to the left side of the Hitmen net where Tanner Eberle chopped his fifth of the year to give the tribe the lead.
Calgary’s power play produced an equalizer at 15:45 as Pavel Padakin gobbled up a rebound and beat Justin Paulic with a backhand. Less than a minute later Jaynen Rissling and Kenton Helgeson set up Jake Virtanen for a blast between the circles that beat Paulic to give the Hitmen their second lead of the game.
Moose Jaw attacked the Calgary net in the third, outshooting the Hitmen 7-3 in the first ten minutes of the period. The Warriors penalty kill came up big as well as they successfully killed off a Calgary five-on-three power play for 53 seconds.
The most notable opportunities for the Warriors to even the game were a Torrin White breakaway and a Brayden Point shot inside the Calgary right crease. Hitmen goalie Chris Driedger turned those chances and more away, making 30 saves to lead Calgary to a 3-2 win.
Justin Paulic made 28 saves in the loss, Miles Warkentine had two assists for the Warriors, and they were 0-for-5 on the power play and 5-for-6 on the penalty kill.
Moose Jaw will now have a week off between games, their next action will come next weekend with home games against Prince Albert and Swift Current Friday and Saturday.
Moose Jaw Starter: G-Justin Paulic, D-Dallas Valentine & Jesse Forsberg, LW-Brett Howden, C-Brayden Point, RW-Sam Fioretti
Moose Jaw Scratches: Jack Rodewald (upper body), Brandon Del Grosso (upper body), Bryson Gore (upper body), Brandon Potomak (upper body)
Calgary Starters: G-Chris Driedger, D-Josh Thrower & Jaynen Rissling, LW-Elliott Peterson, C-Calder Brooks, RW-Greg Chase
Calgary Scratches: Cal Babych, Linden Penner, Braden Oleksyn
