Atley Calvert was the hero for the Warriors, scoring with just 3:43 to play in a 2-1 win over the Calgary Hitmen at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Sunday afternoon.
“Calgary played hard coming off a tough loss yesterday afternoon, so they were ready to go and they played a pretty good hockey game and I thought we played a decent game as well,” Warriors assistant coach Gord Burnett said.
Ryder Korczak finished with a goal and two points, while Connor Ungar was stellar once again, making 35 saves in the victory for the Warriors.
Burnett said the two overage players were key in the victory.
“[Connor] has been our best player and sometimes you need that in net, so we’ve been lucky to have him,” he said.
“Ryder is a difference maker, he plays inspired when we’re playing in Calgary and I thought he wanted the puck, possessed it a bit, and did a good job on the penalty kill.”
After a scoreless first period, the Hitmen opened the scoring just 4:14 into the second period when Grayden Siepmann found the back of the net.
However, the Warriors wasted no time responding as Korczak blasted home his 21st of the season only 41 seconds later.
The two teams battled through a tight third period, but the Warriors broke through when Calvert finished off his own rebound to score his 30th goal of the season and give Moose Jaw a late lead.
The Warriors’ penalty kill was lights out in the game, going 5-for-5 to give Moose Jaw a shot at a victory.
“I thought our guys did a good job possessing the puck, we’ve been working on it, talking about it, trying to create some chances shorthanded and just played a little bit of keep away,” Burnett said.
“It’s tough for a power play if we have the puck, so I thought it was a good job by us.”
With the win, Moose Jaw moves back into third place in the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of Saskatoon and eight points clear of Lethbridge in fifth place.
The Warriors finish their three-game Alberta road trip this week with back-to-back wins and will now prepare to return home to take on the Edmonton Oil Kings on Wednesday night at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.