The Moose Jaw Warriors came out of the gates firing on all cylinders to open the Western Hockey League playoffs on Friday night.
Martin Rysavy and Brayden Schuurman had two goals each as the Warriors topped the Brandon Wheat Kings, 7-4, in Game 1 of their best-of-seven first round series.
“We had a decent start to the playoffs, we know what we can clear up, so now it’s only the job to move on and clear the table and go to tomorrow,” Rysavy said on the series opening win.
The Warriors scored three goals in the first 6:15 of the game with all three coming within a three-minute span to set the tone in the game and the series.
Warriors associate coach Scott King said the team fed off the crowd of over 3,700 fans to start the game.
“It was great, the building filled up and it was great to see that energy and it gave the players lots of juice coming out, so hopefully get more of that,” King said.
Rysavy finished with two goals and three points, while Jagger Firkus had a goal and two points, and Lucas Brenton picked up two assists in the win.
Rysavy said the team played playoff hockey to come away with the victory.
“Playoff hockey, you’ve got to find the holes and play the right way,” he said.
“Playoffs are definitely more competitive, it’s a little bit faster, it’s more about system and not making any mistakes.”
The Warriors 20-year-old import opened the scoring only 3:05 into the game and then Schuurman followed that up just 1:37 later to make it a quick 2-0 lead.
Only 1:33 later, Firkus broke down the wing and scored his first of the playoffs to give the Warriors a 3-0 advantage after one.
Brandon got on the board early in the second when Roger McQueen scored only 2:49 into the period.
The Warriors would answer right back, starting with Owen Berge scoring his first career playoff goal just 1:08 later.
Just 2:13 after that, Firkus set up Rysavy for his second of the night, and fifth goal in the last two games, to give the Warriors a 5-1 lead.
Jayden Wiens would tip home a point shot with a minute to go in the second to make it a three-goal game heading into the third.
Brandon picked up a goal from Caleb Hadland only 3:25 into the third to cut the Warriors’ lead down to two.
Matthew Savoie answered back for the Warriors with a breakaway goal just 4:02 later to restore the three-goal cushion.
The Wheat Kings pulled back within two when Wiens scored his second of the night, but Schuurman iced the game with an empty net goal with 2:25 to play.
“Brandon is one of those teams, they hang around and all of a sudden you look up and it’s a two-goal game, so we need to make sure we bury our chances and limit what they get,” King said.
Jackson Unger made 33 saves in the win for Moose Jaw, while Carson Bjarnason was pulled after allowing five goals on 22 shots. Ethan Eskit stopped 20 of 21 shots in relief for Brandon.
Neither team converted on the power play in the game with the Warriors finishing 0-for-4 and Brandon going 0-for-2.
These two teams will get right back at it on Saturday night when they meet for Game 2 at the Moose Jaw Events Centre. Puck drops at 7 p.m.