MOOSE JAW -- The Moose Jaw Warriors being in close games has become a bit of a theme as of late, and Saturday was no exception.
The key will be to find a way to get positive results out of the hard-fought battles going forward.
The Warriors scored twice in the third period to get within a single goal of tying things up late but would go on to drop a 4-2 decision to the Saskatoon Blades in Western Hockey League action at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
Moose Jaw dropped to 10-22-3-2 and remain in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, while the Blades improved to 21-12-2-2 and regained sole possession of first place in the Conference.
Warriors forward Ethan Semeniuk continued his solid play as of late with the Warriors opening goal in the third period and now has four goals in Moose Jaw’s last four games. He felt the team played well and weren’t far from a positive outcome.
“We made it close towards the end there and didn’t give up, that’s the important thing,” said the 19-year-old four-year veteran. “Obviously we would have liked to have won that one, it was a big game, all the games against teams in our Division are huge right now so we would have definitely liked the two points… We did a lot of things well, but we still need to clean up a few things heading into our road trip here.”
Semeniuk has done most of his damage as of late from in close to the net, and that’s not a coincidence -- especially as he tries to follow the model of a player who had pretty good success doing that kind of thing last season.
“Last year we had Atley Calvert doing that and he’s a great guy, watching him play you want to try and get to the hard areas like he did and do what it takes to score,” Semeniuk said. “It was nice to get one like that.”
Playing that style is never easy, but if it results in positive production…
“I like it,” Semeniuk said. “It’s been working for me the last little while and I like being in the mix there, and there’s no better feeling than a couple taps and putting it in.”
Saskatoon opened scoring 2:09 into the contest. Tanner Scott got off a shot while breaking down his wing in the Warriors zone and the rebound went right to Tyler Parr in the slot, with his quick shot going top shelf blocker side for the 1-0 lead.
The Blades had the lion’s share of zone time as the period progressed, but it would remain a one-goal contest despite Saskatoon outshooting Moose Jaw 12-5 through the opening 20.
Things didn’t change in the second period, as Saskatoon continued to carry the majority of play, but the Warriors were able to generate a handful of chances -- including a two-on-one in the final couple minutes that nearly resulted in the tying goal if not for a save by Blades netminder Ethan McCallum.
Warriors goaltender Brady Smith was also sharp at the other end of the ice, with 22 saves through the first two periods.
Saskatoon received a power play late in the second, and as a result they’d strike early in the third. Moose Jaw Minor Hockey product Rowan Calvert scored his 14th of the season 1:11 into the final frame to give the Blades a 2-0 edge.
The Warriors received their second power play of the game not long after the Blades’ second goal, and they’d capitalize.
Pavel McKenzie got off a shot in close and Ethan Semeniuk would bang the puck home from the top of the crease to make it 2-1 7:00 into the period.
The Blades got that one back on the power play with 6:33 to play, as David Lewandowski jumped on a loose puck with Smith down and out and put a shot top shelf.
Moose Jaw pulled Smith for the extra attacker with just under three minutes to play in the game and they’d get one closer. Schuurman continued his solid play since returning from a long-term injury earlier this week, picking up his second goal and seventh point in four games by knocking home a rebound off an Aiden Ziprick point shot with 2:15 left in regulation.
Ziprick himself has been on a roll as of late and finds himself on a 10-game point streak, with his two assists Saturday giving him two goals and 14 points in that span.
That would be as close as the Warriors would get, though, as Parr scored an empty netter with 17 seconds remaining to close out scoring.
Smith finished with 30 saves on the night, while McCallum turned aside 28 shots.
The Warriors are back in action Tuesday when they travel to Lethbridge to face the Hurricanes.
The Blades are also back in action Tuesday when they travel to Red Deer to face the Rebels.
