MOOSE JAW -- Another night, another hard-fought battle and another loss by the closest of margins for the Moose Jaw Warriors.
The Warriors opened scoring against the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Saturday night but would give up three straight goals before going on to drop a 4-2 decision in Western Hockey League action at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
The Warriors fell to 10-25-4-2 with the loss and remain two points back of the Regina Pats in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. Lethbridge improved to 23-14-1-1 and moved into a tie for third place in the Conference.
The contest marked the return of former Warriors Brayden Yager, Jackson Unger and Voytech Port after trades to Lethbridge earlier this season, though Yager wasn’t in the line-up as he takes a break after captaining Canada at the World Juniors and Unger backed up starting goaltender Koen Cleaver.
The first period was largely a back and forth affair through the first 15 minutes of the game, as neither team was able to generate much momentum in a close-checking contest.
The Hurricanes had a chance to take control of things when Owen Berge was hit with a high-sticking double minor for an accidental hit on Caden Price, but it would be the Warriors who got on the board first.
Ethan Semeniuk forced a turnover at the blueline and broke free on a breakaway before tucking the puck home through Cleaver’s five hole for the 1-0 lead with 4:38 to play in the period.
The Warriors would successfully kill off the penalties, but Shane Smith would score for the Hurricanes with 1:08 remaining, lifting a rebound in close over Moose Jaw goaltender Josh Bianini’s pad to tie the game 1-1.
Lethbridge had almost continuous pressure from the drop of the puck in the second period, and while the Warriors were able to hold them off the scoreboard the majority of the frame, the Hurricanes would break through with just over five minutes remaining.
Smith picked up his second of the game, corralling the puck behind the net during a goalmouth scramble and jamming a shot inside the post for Lethbridge’s first lead of the game.
Logan Worrmald then extended the Hurricanes’ edge with his 21st goal of the season, finishing off a two-on-one with 2:33 remaining in the second.
Banini was a major reason that was the extent of the damage in the second period, as he made a couple of huge saves while stopping 20 shots in the frame.
Moose Jaw would get one back before the period was out, as Aiden Ziprick kept his hot streak going by coming off the boards into the high slot and ripping a shot top shelf glove side.
The goal gives 19-year-old defenceman four goals and 20 points in Moose Jaw’s last 13 games.
Nothing changed until the end of the third period, but the Warriors tightened up their defensive game and would generate a handful of chances in the process but couldn’t find a way past Cleaver.
A late penalty to the Hurricanes gave the Warriors a chance to play 6-on-4 for the final minute with Banini pulled for the extra attacker, but Jordan Gustafson would score with four seconds remaining to finish things off.
Banini took first star honours thanks to his 43-save performance while the Warriors had 22 shots on Cleaver.
The Warriors are back in action Friday when the Portland Winterhawks are in town. Game time is 7 p.m. at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
