Swift Current, SK – A strong third period propelled the Moose Jaw Warriors to a 3-1 series lead over the Swift Current Broncos.
The Warriors scored three unanswered in the third to skate to a 5-2 win over the Broncos in Game 4 of their second round series in Swift Current.
“That was our goal coming into these two games, obviously on the road, it’s tough to win, especially in playoffs with that atmosphere that they had, it was pretty electric, but we found a way to get two and it feels great,” Warriors forward Brayden Yager said.
The back-and-forth game saw the Broncos lead in both the first and second periods only to have the Warriors answer to sit tied at 1-1 after one and 2-2 after two.
In the third, the Warriors struck for goals from Yager and Rilen Kovacevic 4:54 apart to take their first lead of the game and hold on for the win.
“It’s not something we want to make a habit, getting behind, we’ve done it a lot this series, but we can’t talk about our resiliency enough,” Warriors head coach Mark O’Leary said.
“With this group, I don’t think we ever feel like we’re out of a game.”
Yager finished with a goal and three points, while Jagger Firkus had two goals and three points on the night.
Jackson Unger came through with 36 big saves in the win, including 15 in the third period.
“He played unbelievable,” Yager said. “A couple of Grade ‘A’ chances they shouldn’t have got and Boogs stood on his head and made a couple of tough saves look pretty easy.”
Conor Geekie opened the scoring for the Broncos 8:17 into the game, but the Warriros were able to answer back late in the period when Ethan Hughes scored his first career playoff goal to tie the game at 1-1.
The Broncos retook the lead 2:04 into the second period on a goal from Caleb Wyrostok.
Moose Jaw found its break and tied the game when Firkus jammed home his fifth of the playoffs at the side of the net with 12:22 gone in the middle frame.
The Warriors took their first lead of the game 5:05 into the third when Yager snapped home his seventh of the playoffs.
Only 4:54 later, Kovacevic fought off a Broncos defender and lifted home his second of the playoffs to give the Warriors a two-goal lead.
Firkus iced the game with an empty goal with 3:58 to play in the third.
The Warriors will now look to finish off the series on home ice.
Yager said the team is looking forward to getting back in front of their fans at the Hangar.
“Obviously we had a good section here of Warriors fans, we could hear the chants, but once we get the whole building screaming ‘Go Warriors Go’, it’s going to be crazy,” he said.
“Get back there, give ourselves a good chance to finish it at home and our fans something to cheer about.”
Game 5 goes on Friday night at the Moose Jaw Events Centre. Limited standing room tickets are available for the game.