The wins weren’t spectacular, they weren’t perfect and they had moments that could be improved
But they were still just that: wins. And the Moose Jaw Warriors will happily take any checks in that column, no matter how the final result was reached.
The Warriors extended their Western Hockey League winning streak to eight games with a 3-1 victory over the Broncos in Swift Current on Friday and a 5-2 win over the Tigers in Medicine Hat on Saturday, continuing a stretch of impressive play for the local squad.
“I don't think we played six good periods, but we played well when we needed to and certainly I think we're finding different ways to win and that's really important,” said Warriors head coach Mark O’Leary.
“I think it all comes down to our depth,” he added. “Even when we’re not scoring goals, we have guys that that can check and defend and our goaltenders are giving us timely saves. Our special teams are improving, we’ve had some big power play goals and our penalty kill has had some big moments. And there’s the depth in scoring, Eric Alarie has been hot lately and the same with Atley Calvert. That's what you're going to need going down the stretch here.”
In Swift Current, Alarie scored twice and Calvert picked up their other marker as they overcame a 1-0 first period deficit with three unanswered goals. Goaltender Carl Tetachuk was the real standout, though, as he made a host of spectacular saves in the early part of the contest to keep the Warriors in the game, finishing with 26 on the night.
The Warriors put together arguably their best first period of the season in Medicine Hat 24 hours later, as Alarie, Majid Kaddoura, Ryder Korczak and Marek Howell -- with his first WHL career goal -- all scored in the opening frame.
The Tigers pushed back as the game progressed and had chances of their own, pulling within a pair early in the second, but would get no closer. Jagger Firkus tacked on a late insurance marker to close out the win.
Jackson Unger had a 29-save performance in goal.
As O’Leary mentioned, special teams have been a key to the recent run -- but the difference in the penalty kill has been startling. Once owners of the worst kill in the league, the Warriors haven’t allowed a power play goal in eight straight games, which matches up neatly with their streak. They’re now 17th overall at 76.6 per cent.
“We took a deep dive when after the first 10 or 15 games it was obviously really bad,” O’Leary said. “It was such a small sample size, we didn’t overreact and had confidence in finding the right guys for the job and I think once we settled into roles and responsibilities with our team, the guys have really taken it upon themselves to make it a strength for us. And right from the goaltending out, it’s been a big part of our game as of late.”
Making things even more interesting is the winning ways have been coming without a handful of their top players -- team captain Daemon Hunt remains day-to-day after missing the last two games, Cole Jordan and Martin Rysavy week-to-week. That’s where the aforementioned depth has made such a difference, as other players have stepped up to fill the roles vacated by their injured NHL-drafted players.
“I don't think any team can rely on just two or three guys to provide offence or get things done on defence,” O’Leary said. “You have to find different ways to win. That comes down to individuals stepping up at different times and I think that's what makes this group special. Every guy that's in the lineup has a role, it's important and it doesn’t matter who is on the ice, it could be the biggest moment of the game. So it's a lot of fun to be around right now.”
The Warriors are now 25-16-3-1 on the season and head into play this week seven points back of the Red Deer Rebels for third in the Eastern Conference, six points up on Saskatoon.
Their eight-game winning streak and 8-2-0-0 record in their last 10 are the two hottest streaks in the Eastern Conference.
The Warriors return to action Wednesday, Feb. 9 when they host the Lethbridge Hurricanes, followed by the Prince Albert Raiders on Friday, Feb, 11 and Calgary Hitmen on Saturday, Feb. 12. All games are 7 p.m. at Mosaic Place.
