Regina, SK – The Moose Jaw Warriors finished off a busy weekend with another key two points on Sunday in Regina.
The Warriors knocked off the Pats, 6-3, at the Brandt Centre and in the process locked up home ice advantage in the first two rounds of the WHL Playoffs.
“It’s a big win for us and we’re feeling good going into next weekend,” Warriors forward Brayden Yager said after the win.
“It’s coming down to the wire with the regular season, we’re really excited for the playoffs, that’s kind of a whole new excitement and we kind of feel it coming, especially with our fans back home, they’re starting to really fill the Hangar and it’s getting really exciting.”
Yager had a goal and four points to lead the charge for the Warriors in Sunday’s win, while Jagger Firkus picked up a pair of goals and Matthew Savoie finished with three helpers.
Dimitri Fortin was solid between the pipes as he made 21 saves to earn his second straight win on the weekend.
“One of the messages before the game, and throughout the game, was our puck management throughout the neutral zone and o-zone and I thought we did a great job of that,” Warriors associate coach Curtis Pereverzoff said.
The Warriors made history on their first goal of the game as Captain Denton Mateychuk set up Yager for a power play goal with 3:26 to go in the first.
With the assist, Mateychuk became the highest scoring defenceman in Warriors’ history, surpassing Nathan Paetsch with 213 points.
“It was awesome, it just shows how good of a player he really is, over the years he just keeps getting better and is a leader on our team and we’re super proud for him,” Yager said.
The Warriors got rolling after that goal and scored again on the power play only 3:17 later when Atley Calvert put home his 46th of the season to make it 2-0 after one.
Pavel McKenzie struck for his 14th of the season only 3:07 into the second period, extending the Warriors’ lead to three goals, but the Pats battled back.
Corbin Vaughan scored for Regina with 3:17 to go in the second period and then Zane Rowan made it a one-goal only 2:58 into the third.
The Warriors were able to answer right back with Firkus picking up his 55th goal of the season only 1:38 later to restore the two-goal cushion for Moose Jaw.
Firkus added his 56th of the season just past the midway point of the third period.
Then, Lynden Lakovic broke in on a breakaway and scored his 18th of the season with 2:20 to go to make it 6-2 for Moose Jaw.
Regina picked up a late goal from Anthony Wilson, but it wasn’t enough.
The Warriors end up collecting four out of six points on a busy three-in-three weekend and Yager said there’s lots to build off for the team.
“The first game in Saskatoon wasn’t really our greatest game, but we bounced back really well and played a real strong game last night in Moose Jaw in front of our fans and then took it to Regina tonight,” he said.
With the win, the Warriors swept their four games in Regina this season and have a 6-1 record against the Pats in their season series.
“They gave us some troubles throughout the year, but that’s the resiliency of our group, we’ve been able to find ways to win in different situations and tonight was no different,” Pereverzoff said.
The Warriors’ power play went 2-for-6 on the night and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill. Moose Jaw outshot Regina, 28-15, in the win.
The Warriors will finish the regular season with a trip to Brandon on Thursday and a home date against the Pats on Saturday.