Lethbridge, AB — The Moose Jaw Warriors took full control of their first-round series against the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Tuesday night.
The Warriors went into the ENMAX Centre and skated to a 6-2 win in Game 3, taking a 3-0 advantage in the best-of-seven series.
“The guys did a good job of making sure that we were inside first [in the defensive zone], we did a good job in front of Connor and then obviously Connor made all the saves that we have come to expect him to make,” Warriors assistant coach Gord Burnett said.
Jagger Firkus finished with a natural hat trick and four points in the win.
Firkus put the Warriors in front for good with a goal late in the first period and Burnett said that was a turning point in the game.
“Jagger is such a good player that they’re keeping an eye on him, but one thing about Jagger is the more you pick on him, the better he gets,” Burnett said.
“That goal was big for us, I thought it really turned the game and they didn’t want to be as aggressive on him or the rest of our guys after that.”
The Warriors led 2-1 after one thanks goal from Firkus and Atley Calvert.
Firkus would score two goals just over three minutes apart around the midway point of the second to make it 4-1 for the Warriors.
Martin Rysavy tipped home his second of the playoffs with 5:02 remaining in the second to give the Warriors a four-goal advantage heading into the third.
Brayden Edwards scored for Lethbridge with 12:40 left in the third, but Calvert’s second of the night into an empty net sealed the win for the Warriors.
Connor Ungar made 24 saves to backstop the Warriors to the victory as Moose Jaw was outshot 26-23 on the night.
The Warriors finished 0-for-3 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill.
With the win, Moose Jaw now sits just one win away from advancing to the second round of the WHL Playoffs for the second straight season.
Burnett said the team won’t be letting off the gas going into Game 4.
“Any team that’s facing elimination knows if they lose it’s time to pack up and go home, so they’re going to try and fight their way out and that’s what we’re going to expect,” he said.
“We’re going to have to come with our best again and make sure that we do everything we can to send them home and know they’re going to do everything they can to prevent that from happening.”
The Warriors and Hurricanes meet for Game 4 on Wednesday night at the ENMAX Centre.