Warriors Fail to Stall Rockets in Tuesday Loss
December 12, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Moose Jaw Warriors News Release
Moose Jaw, SK - Pavel McKenzie scored the lone goal and Jackson Unger made 38 saves, but it wasn't enough for the Moose Jaw Warriors on Tuesday night.
The Warriors dropped a narrow 2-1 game to the Kelowna Rockets at the Moose Jaw Events Centre for the team's four straight loss.
"In this four-game skid here, we can talk about a four-game losing streak, but throughout those four games, we've done a lot of really good things and tonight was no different," Warriors assistant coach Curtis Pereverzoff said.
Moose Jaw drops to 17-13-0-2 with the loss and sits tied for third place in the Eastern Conference at 36 points with the Prince Albert Raiders.
Pereverzoff said Tuesday's loss wasn't for a lack of effort.
"I thought our compete was on top for the most part and we battled and worked really hard at both ends of the rink," he said. "To see a game slip away like that off of an unlucky bounce, it hurts."
Warriors forward Lynden Lakovic said the Warriors are playing good hockey, but can't get the bounce to go their way.
"It's super frustrating," he said. "You feel like you tried your hardest and yet you lose off a lucky bounce, it's super frustrating and honestly I just can't wait to play Friday and bounce back because I thought we outworked them for the part."
The Warriors fell behind midway through the first period when Andrew Cristall finished off a rebound in front.
Moose Jaw was able to tie the game late in the second period when McKenzie broke into the zone, cut to the slot and wired home his sixth of the season.
In the third, the Rockets took the lead on Cristall's second of the night midway through the period and the Warriors couldn't find the equalizer despite some good pressure.
"We've just got to capitalize on our chances, we had enough to definitely win that hockey game," Lakovic said. "It's to the point where each and every night we have more than enough chances to win and they just aren't going in."
The Warriors were outshot 40-33 in the loss, while neither team scored on the power play - Moose Jaw had three opportunities and Kelowna finished with one.
Next up for the Warriors is another battle with a BC Division team as the Kamloops Blazers come to town on Friday night. Moose Jaw will finish the first half in Brandon on Sunday.
Western Hockey League Stories from December 12, 2023
- Warriors Fail to Stall Rockets in Tuesday Loss - Moose Jaw Warriors
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- Rockets To Play Back-To-Back Mid Week Games - Kelowna Rockets
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- Ondrej Becher and Viliam Kmec Set to Shine at World Junior Camps - Prince George Cougars
- Wheat Kings this Week: Black and Gold Look to Continue Homestand Hot Streak - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Warriors Look for Rebound against Rockets - Moose Jaw Warriors
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