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WHL Moose Jaw Warriors

Warriors Fall Short in Game 1 in Winnipeg

May 7, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Moose Jaw Warriors News Release


The Winnipeg ICE scored a goal in the first minute of each period to put the Moose Jaw Warriors on their heels throughout Game 1 of their second round series.

Moose Jaw ended up falling 6-1 to Winnipeg at Wayne Fleming Arena on Friday night.

"It's not the start we wanted," Warriors assistant coach Scott King said. "Seems like every time we're in this building, they manage to get a quick goal and all of a sudden, you start to second guess yourself."

The ICE led 2-0 after the first period, 5-0 after the second period and then finished off the win to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Brayden Yager broke up Winnipeg goalie Daniel Hauser's shutout with just over two minutes to play in regulation.

"We just weren't ready to go," Yager said. "Something we've got to work on going into tomorrow is be ready to go right off the bat."

Yager said turnovers hurt the Warriors throughout the game.

"We want to move pucks fast and up ice and I don't think we did a very good job of that, but tomorrow we'll be a lot better," he said.

Trailing early and struggling with puck management wasn't a good recipe for the Warriors.

King said Moose Jaw made life difficult for themselves.

"Once they get two and three, you're really chasing the game and then it makes things a lot more difficult," he said.

Owen Pederson finished with two goals and three points to lead the ICE in the win. He opened the scoring just 18 seconds into the game after Winnipeg went on the attack following a neutral zone turnover.

Jack Finley made it a 2-0 lead for Winnipeg, scoring a power play goal with 3:10 to play in the first period.

The ICE struck quickly again in the second period when Jakin Smallwood fired the puck into the back of the net just 57 seconds into the frame.

Matthew Savoie made it 4-0 with a power play goal midway through the period and Pederson's second of the night put the ICE up by five after two.

Mikey Milne would score just 11 seconds into the third period to give Winnipeg a six-goal advantage early in the third.

Moose Jaw pushed back throughout the final frame and finally broke through when Yager rifled a shot top shelf with 2:12 to play in the game.

Yager said getting that late goal after a strong third gives the Warriors some positive momentum to build off.

"We just want to be better in every aspect of the game tomorrow, so we'll just be better tomorrow," he said.

Carl Tetachuk made 24 saves through two periods, while Jackson Unger stopped 5-of-6 shots in relief in the third period. Hauser finished with 18 saves in the win.

After being outshot 29-7 through two periods, the Warriors outshot Winnipeg 12-6 in the third.

King said Moose Jaw never gave up on the game.

"I liked the way we battled throughout the game and we didn't quit, so there's a lot we can keep working out and get better at and we'll be better tomorrow night for sure," he said.

The Warriors and ICE will meet for Game 2 on Saturday night at Wayne Fleming Arena. Puck drops at 6 p.m. CST.

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Western Hockey League Stories from May 7, 2022


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