BRANDON -- The Moose Jaw Warriors might not have playoff hockey in their immediate future, but they aren’t closing out the season without a fight.
The Warriors stuck with the Brandon Wheat Kings from start to finish on Friday night in Brandon, but would come up short and take a 4-1 loss in Western Hockey League action.
The loss sees Moose Jaw fall to 14-43-5-2 and remain in 11th in the Eastern Conference, three points back of Regina. Brandon improved to 35-22-4-3 and remain in first place in the East Division, and as a result sit second in the Conference.
As close as things turned out on the night, Brandon did have a ton of pressure right off the puck drop and were rewarded early, even if there was a bit of controversy.
Caleb Hadland opened scoring 1:35 into the game, getting off a shot from the slot into the wide-open net after Warriors goaltender Josh Banini had been knocked down at the side of the goal earlier in the play. The officials gathered to discuss whether the marker should be disallowed, but it stood, and the Wheat Kings had a 1-0 lead.
Brandon had a great chance to build on that edge on their first power play of the game midway through the period, but Warriors defenceman Brady Ness would make a pair of blocks, including a goal-saving stop with his skate on a grade-A scoring opportunity.
The Warriors were able to flip the ice as the period progressed, getting a handful of great scoring chances in the final minutes. Riley Thorpe had one of those, going in on a short breakaway before being stopped by Brandon goaltender Carson Bjarnason.
Moose Jaw had a chance to tie the game with their first power play as the period expired, but Brandon would strike early in the second instead.
Hadland scored his second of the game, getting off a shot from the right faceoff circle that went top shelf blocker side only 43 seconds into the period.
The Warriors would get back within one with 6:29 to play in the second, taking advantage of their third power play in the process. Krzysztof Macias broke up the middle of the ice and flipped the puck to himself crossing the blueline to create a short breakaway, and a shot under Bjarnason’s arm made it a 2-1 game.
Brandon regained control of the contest to start the third, and a run of extended time in the Warriors zone led to their third goal. Jordan Gavin took advantage of a turnover in the Moose Jaw zone and worked his way into the slot before sneaking home a shot with 9:44 to play.
The Warriors pulled Banini for the extra attacker with three minutes to play, but Luke Shipley would score with 1:22 remaining to give Brandon a 4-1 lead and close out scoring.
Banini turned in a solid performance overall and turned aside 33 shots, while Bjarnason had 32 saves.
The two teams are right back in action on Saturday night when Brandon visits the Temple Gardens Centre. Puck drop is 7 p.m.
