SERIES PREVIEW: Moose Jaw (3) vs. Swift Current (2)
The 2024 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien continue with Second-Round matchups beginning on Friday, April 12. WHL.ca is previewing each series ahead of puck drop, continuing with a look at an all-Saskatchewan showdown between the Moose Jaw Warriors and Swift Current Broncos.
Well, Moose Jaw General Manager Jason Ripplinger and Swift Current General Manager Chad Leslie certainly hoped Matthew Savoie and Conor Geekie would be game-breakers when they traded for the powerhouses in a pair of blockbuster deals in January.
Now, the former Wenatchee Wild teammates will go head-to-head in a tantalizing Eastern Conference Semifinal matchup between the Warriors and Broncos.
Neither team has lost a game yet in the 2024 postseason, with Swift Current sweeping Lethbridge and Moose Jaw dispatching Brandon in four straight.
While Swift Current clinched the Central Division title with an 86-point regular-season campaign, Moose Jaw finished the season third in the Eastern Conference with 96 points, snagging home-ice advantage in Round Two after playoff re-seeding.
The Warriors and Broncos split their regular season series with three wins each in six tilts that were heavy on the scoring. In fact, Moose Jaw and Swift Current both ranked in the top five for goals scored in the regular season.
This marks the first time the Warriors and Broncos will meet in playoffs since clashing in a barnburner in Round Two of the 2018 postseason, with Swift Current emerging victorious in seven games.
Three of those 2018 games required overtime, including double overtime and triple overtime nailbiters.
STAT PACK
Moose Jaw Warriors | Swift Current Broncos | |
Record | 44-21-0-3 (2nd East) | 40-22-4-2 (1st Central) |
Playoff Leaders | Matthew Savoie (5G, 3A, 8PTS)
Jagger Firkus (2G, 5A, 7PTS) Denton Mateychuk (2G, 5A, 7PTS) |
Clarke Caswell (2G, 6A, 8PTS)
Luke Mistelbacher (4G, 3A, 7PTS) Conor Geekie (4G, 2A, 6PTS) |
Season Leaders | Jagger Firkus (61G, 65A, 126PTS)
Atley Calvert (47G, 48A, 95PTS) Brayden Yager (35G, 60A, 95PTS) |
Conor Geekie (43G, 56A, 99PTS)
Clarke Caswell (26G, 51A, 77PTS) Rylan Gould (23G, 45A, 68PTS) |
Leading Goaltender (Playoffs) | Jackson Unger (4-0-0-0, 3.47, .905) | Reid Dyck (4-0-0-0, 2.30, .927) |
Power Play (Playoffs) | 12.5% (13th) | 57.1% (1st) |
Penalty Kill (Playoffs) | 85.7% (5th) | 88.9% (3rd) |
First Round | Def. Brandon (4-0) | Def. Lethbridge (4-0) |
Last WHL Championship | – | 2018 |
2023-24 REGULAR SEASON SERIES
November 24, 2023- Swift Current 6, Moose Jaw 3
November 28, 2023- Swift Current 0, Moose Jaw 4
January 6, 2024- Moose Jaw 6, Swift Current 7
January 19, 2024- Moose Jaw 5, Swift Current 3
January 20, 2024- Swift Current 3, Moose Jaw 4
February 19, 2024- Moose Jaw 2, Swift Current 5
GAME BREAKERS
GOALTENDING
X-FACTOR
SERIES SCHEDULE
Game | Date | Away | Home | Time |
1 | Friday, April 12 | Swift Current | Moose Jaw | 7:00 p.m. ST |
2 | Saturday, April 13 | Swift Current | Moose Jaw | 7:00 p.m. ST |
3 | Tuesday, April 16 | Moose Jaw | Swift Current | 7:00 p.m. ST |
4 | Wednesday, April 17 | Moose Jaw | Swift Current | 7:00 p.m. ST |
5* | Friday, April 19 | Swift Current | Moose Jaw | 7:00 p.m. ST |
6* | Sunday, April 21 | Moose Jaw | Swift Current | 7:00 p.m. ST |
7* | Tuesday, April 23 | Swift Current | Moose Jaw | 7:00 p.m. ST |
*-If necessary
WHL Live streaming packages are available for the 2024 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien. Catch all the action by watching WHL Live on CHL TV, with various subscription options available:
- 2024 CHL Playoffs All Access – $89.99
- 2024 WHL Playoffs All Access – $59.99
- 2024 WHL Playoffs, Second Round – $19.99
- 2024 WHL Playoffs, Daily – $9.99
* = all prices before tax and listed in CAD
WHL Live on CHL TV is available on iOS and Android mobile devices, traditional web browsers (Safari and Chrome), as well as smart TV devices such as Apple TV, Android OS, and Fire TV.