MOOSE JAW -- The Moose Jaw Warriors had more than their fair share of close games during their 12-game Western Hockey League losing streak, but on Saturday night, they finally found a way to put things together.
Krzysztof Macias scored a hat trick and the Warriors would go on to a 6-2 victory over the Saskatoon Blades at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
The win gives the Warriors points in back to back games and sees their record improve to 12-41-5-2. Saskatoon fell to 30-19-3-4 and remain in seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
The contest was also special as it acted as the Warriors’ NIckelodeon Night, with the team wearing Paw Patrol jerseys that were auctioned off through the evening, raising funds for the Children’s Miracle Network.
The Warriors have seen themselves fall behind in the majority of games during their losing skid, but Saturday wasn’t one of them.
Macias got Moose Jaw on the board at the 9:12 mark of the opening frame, redirecting an Aiden Ziprick pass to the side of the net into the Saskatoon goal.
Only 1:52 later, Lynden Lakovic scored one of the highlight reel goals of the season as he broke into the Saskatoon zone, dipsy doodled around a Blades defender and then scored from the high slot as he was being hauled down.
Hunter Laing would get one back for Saskatoon with 3:46 to play in the opening frame, finishing off a touch of sustained pressure in the Moose Jaw zone with a wraparound goal.
Macias restored the Warriors’ two-goal lead 1:33 into the second, taking a breakaway pass from Nolan Paquette and lifting a backhand over a sprawling Ethan McCallum for the 3-1 edge.
Not long after that marker, it was once again a one-goal game, with Jordan Martin scoring from the slot at the six minute mark after a string of pressure in the Moose Jaw zone.
The Warriors once again had an answer, though, and it was once again Macias. The ‘Polish Prince’ finished off his hat trick 4:57 into the third period, wiring home a one-timer from the right face-off circle for the 4-2 lead.
Pavel McKenzie then made it a three-goal edge, scoring his 10th power play goal of the year when he re-directed a shot-pass to the side of the net by Lakovic. Ziprick also picked up his third assist of the game.
Lakovic then added an empty-netter for his third point of the night with 3:17 to play.
Matthew Hutchison finished with 36 saves for the win, while McCallum turned aside 16.
The Warriors are back in action Friday when they host the Regina Pats to open a weekend home and home series. Game time is 7 p.m. at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
Saskatoon is back on the ice Sunday when they host the Edmonton Oil Kings. Puck drop is 4 p.m. at SaskTel Centre.
