MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- The Moose Jaw Warriors went into Game 2 of their Eastern Conference final looking for some serious pushback after a tough loss to the Swift Current Broncos a night earlier.
And while it took a period to come, once things got rolling, it was all systems go for the home team.
The Warriors scored six goals in the second period, including four in a span of just over five minutes, before going on to a 7-2 victory in front of another sold-out Moose Jaw Events Centre crowd.
As a result, the best-of-seven series is now tied at a game apiece, with Games 3 and 4 in Swift Current this Tuesday and Wednesday.
“I thought we did a great job, and you could tell right from when they walked in the building this morning,” said Warriors head coach Mark O’Leary. “Starting with our captain and goaltender, I thought they led the way tonight. We talk all the time about how bad things happen, but it’s all about what you do next. We were able to get up quick and punch back.”
Warriors goaltender Jackson Unger was tested twice early, first on a two-on-one when he made a big pad save on Conor Geekie and seconds later when Caleb Wyrostock dipsy doodled his way to the top of the crease and got off a shot in close.
The Broncos had a handful of other solid scoring chances over the next five minutes, and a soft defensive play led to Connor Hvidston walking in unopposed before finding Josh Filmon open in the slot. His quick one-timer along the ice would give Swift Current a 1-0 lead 8:35 into the game.
Swift Current continued to win the vast majority of puck battles as the period progressed,
including on the Warriors’ first power play of the game when Moose Jaw had only a couple of scoring chances.
The Broncos received their first power play with 3:13 to play in the period, but it would be the Warriors who took advantage. A turnover at the blueline sent Ethan Semeniuk in on a two-on-one with Brayden Yager, and the Pittsburgh Penguins first-rounder would make no mistake after taking the feed, beating Reid Dyck with a shot glove side to tie the game with 2:19 remaining in the opening frame.
Then the second period came, and all the pressure the Warriors had over the previous four periods finally paid off.
Yager gave the Warriors their first lead of the series 1:56 into the period, taking advantage of his team’s second power play to stuff the puck in behind Dyck from behind the net.
Only 39 seconds later, it was a two-goal lead, thanks to Denton Mateychuk breaking down the wing and getting off perfect hard-angle shot that beat Dyck blocker side.
Moose Jaw then extended their lead to 4-1 with 4:36 gone in the period, with Jagger Firkus finishing off some brilliant puck movement by one-timing a shot home from the slot.
The hits just kept coming, as Yager then finished off his hat trick with 6:01 gone, taking a pass from Mateychuk, circling the zone to find space and ripping home a shot top shelf.
All told, the Warriors scored four goals in just over five minutes, and they weren’t done yet.
Martin Rysavy knocked down a high pass in front from Mateychuk and got off a shot that Dyck appeared to make a miraculous glove save on, but a goal review gave the Warriors their sixth goal with 9:01 remaining.
Only 1:40 later it was 7-1, with a Kalem Parker point shot finding its way through traffic and into the back of the net.
Mateychuk picked up another assist, giving him six points in a period and a half of action.
That was the end of the night for Game 1 hero Dyck, who was pulled in favour of Joey Rocha after allowing seven goals on 26 shots in 32:40 of work.
The Warriors had a bit of a scare when Firkus was hit in the back of the head with a shot late in the second period, but the WHL regular season scoring leader was no worse for wear after the game.
Wyrostock got one back shorthanded for the Broncos with 5:32 to play, but that’s as close as they’d get, and the Warriors had their commanding win.
Unger capped his night with 25 saves while Rocha was spectacular in his period of work as the Warriors pushed despite not playing their top two lines much of the frame, stopping 14 shots.
Games 3 and 4 are now in Swift Current, with Game 5 back in Moose Jaw on Friday night. Puck drop is 7 p.m. for that contest, and be sure to keep an eye on Warriors social media for when tickets go on sale, as another sell out is expected.
