After a tough loss on home ice in Game 2. the Moose Jaw WIMAR Warriors felt they weren’t that far off from finding a way to win against the Regina Pat Canadians in their Sask Male AAA Hockey League first-round playoff series.
It would just take a complete team effort -- even if time was running out and they trailed the best-of-five series two games to none heading into the Regina on Wednesday night.
As it turns out, they’d find a way to get the job done.
The Warriors scored three straight goals through the first and second periods and would go to a 4-3 victory in Game 3 at the Co-Operators Arena in Regina.
As a result, Moose Jaw remains alive in the series, with Game 4 in Moose Jaw on Thursday night.
Even with the final result, it was Regina who got off to a great start, as Casey Brown got the Pat Canadians on the board only 18 seconds into the game.
Jonah Pinel would get that one back for Moose Jaw before the period was out, though, and the game was tied 1-1 after the first.
Chase Petersen gave the Warriors their first lead 6:22 into the second, and 1:18 after that goal, Noah Thul would pot a shorthanded marker to make it a two-goal game.
Moose Jaw nearly got out of the period with that lead, but Steven Steranka got one back for Regina with 28 seconds remaining, and the Warriors had a 3-2 edge heading into the third.
Jake Briltz restored the two-goal edge for Moose Jaw early in the second, and his marker at 4:03 would stand as the game-winner when Isaac Poll got the Pat Canadians within one with 5:48 remaining.
Pinel capped his night with three points, while Bryce Boughen and Dylan Duzan had two assists each
Luke McKechnie turned in a stellar showing in goal with 39 saves while Jaidyn Shaw had 16 stops for the Pat Canadians.
Game 4 of the series is set for 7 p.m. tonight at the Moose Jaw Events Centre, with Game 5 back in Regina on Sunday night.
