Warriors Trail Wheat Kings 2-0
(Story courtesy Marc Smith, DiscoverMooseJaw.com) Looking for a rebound after a Game 1 loss, the Moose Jaw Warriors couldn’t build momentum coming as they fell 5-2 to the Brandon Wheat Kings in Game 2 of their second round series on Saturday.
Brayden Point and Dryden Hunt each had a goal and two points in the loss, while Ivan Provorov, Tanner Kaspick and Duncan Campbell added a goal and two points each for the Wheat Kings.
The game started strong for the Warriors in the opening minutes, but the Wheat Kings eventually found their stride and went to work.
Brandon opened the scoring just before the midway point of the first when Tim McGauley’s shot beat Zach Sawchenko for a power play marker and the 1-0 lead.
Brayden Point answered for Moose Jaw with just over two minutes to go in the opening frame, finishing on a rebound chance in front. The tie game was short lived however as the Wheat Kings won an offensive zone face off and Duncan Campbell buried a rebound in front just 50 seconds later to put Brandon in front 2-1 after one.
After a strong first, the Wheat Kings took control of the game in the second period. Ivan Provorov let a point shot go that found its way past Sawchenko to make it 3-1 for the Wheat Kings just four minutes into the middle frame.
Later in the period, Tanner Kaspick buried a rebound after a scramble in front of the Warriors net and three minutes later, James Shearer beat Sawchenko with a shot that went off the Warrior goalie’s glove.
That was the end of the night for Sawchenko, who allowed five goals on 38 shots.
The Warriors came out much stronger in the third period, generating chances on the fore check and limiting the Wheat Kings’ opportunities.
Moose Jaw pulled within three when Dryden Hunt scored five seconds into a power play chance, the Warriors’ first of the game.
That would be as close as the Warriors would get however as they were turned away on some chances late in the game by Jordan Papirny, who stopped 26 of 28 shots for the win.
Brandon has now won six straight playoff games to go up 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.
The two teams will now make their way down the Trans-Canada to Moose Jaw for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday at Mosaic Place.
(photo credit, Brandon Wheat Kings staff)
