MOOSE JAW -- If the Moose Jaw Warriors ever wanted to get a feel what it was like to face themselves last season, Saturday night’s contest with the Calgary Hitmen would have been a good example.
The talent-stacked Hitmen scored a pair of goals in the first period and would go on to a 5-1 victory in Western Hockey League action from the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
The win was the fourth straight for Calgary, who improved to 37-15-3-2 and moved into first place in the Eastern Conference pending the result between Medicine Hat and Kamloops later Saturday.
Moose Jaw fell to 11-40-4-2 with their 10th straight loss and remain in 11th place in the Conference.
Despite the disparity in the standings, the Warriors turned in an admirable performance and were able to go toe-to-toe with the Hitmen much of the night.
The majority of the first half of the first period was a back-and-forth affair, but the Hitmen would get on the board with 8:36 remaining in the frame.
Ethan Moore took a drop pass in the Warriors zone from Wyatt Pisarczyk and put a shot from the slot low glove side for the 1-0 lead.
Carson Wetsch then made it a two-goal lead 58 seconds later, beating his man to the outside on the rush and tucking the puck five hole.
Things didn’t change much in the second period as the two teams continued to play a close-checking game, but it would be Calgary who once again broke through.
Ben Kindel found Oliver Tulk with a cross-ice pass in the Warriors zone, and his quick shot would elude Warriors goaltender Josh Banini top shelf glove side with six minutes gone in the frame.
The Warriors finally snapped Calgary’s shutout streak - spanning their previous two games -- with 4:26 remaining in the period. Krzysztof Macias got off a wrap around and Luke Moroz would be rewarded for going hard to the net with his first goal as a Warrior.
The score would remain the same through the third period, and the Warriors would pull Banini for the extra attacker with 1:16 remaining. Wetsch would pick up his second of the game with 54 seconds remaining by scoring into the empty net.
Carson Birnie then finished off scoring with Calgary’s fifth goal with six seconds remaining.
Banini finished with 34 saves on the night, white Anders MIller turned aside 23 for Calgary.
The Warriors are back in action Tuesday when the Edmonton Oil Kings are at the Moose Jaw Events Centre. Puck drop is 7 p.m.
