With the WHL trade deadline in the rear-view mirror, the Moose Jaw Warriors started their push towards the playoffs on Sunday afternoon in Swift Current.
The Warriors went into the Credit Union Iplex and skated away with a 4-3 win over the Broncos, giving Moose Jaw their third straight win and fourth victory in the past five games.
Brett Howden scored and had two points, while Dryden Hunt and Marc McNulty each had two assists to lead the way for the Warriors.
The game started with both teams feeling each other out through the first half of the opening frame.
The Broncos started to get more chances as the period moved on and went to the man advantage late in the frame. That’s where they were able to open the scoring on a goal from Tyler Steenbergen.
Just like Saturday night against Saskatoon, the Warriors went into the second period looking for a spark, which they received on the power play. Noah Gregor went short-side top shelf on Broncos goalie Travis Child to tie the game at 1-1 early in the second.
Swift Current had a good push back after the goal and eventually went back in front on Brandan Arnold’s second of the season when he finished on a big rebound kicked out by Warriors goalie Brody Willms.
Moose Jaw answered back just over a minute later thanks to Josh Thrower’s first goal as a Warrior, and first of the season, on a point shot that deflected off Broncos defenceman Max Lajoie in front to tie the game at 2-2 after two.
In the third, the Warriors came out firing to start the frame and really controlled the play throughout the final period.
Howden scored a power play goal 4:22 into the third to give Moose Jaw the lead and then just 2:23 later, Jayden Halbgewachs buried a nice feed from Ryan Bowen to put the Warriors in front by two.
Max Lajoie pulled the Broncos back within one, but that was as close as they would get as the Warriors sealed the door from there.
Willms made 25 saves in the win for the Warriors, while the Tribe fired 31 shots on Child, including 11 in the third period.
Special teams played a big part in the contest with both teams finishing 2-for-3 with the man advantage.
With the two wins this weekend, the Warriors move just three points back of the Prince Albert Raiders for second place in the East Division.
Moose Jaw is back on home ice on Wednesday for a tough test against the Memorial Cup-hosting Red Deer Rebels, it’s one of two games between the teams over the next two weeks.
Source: mjwarriors.ca
