But until that happens, it’s going to be a matter of relentless, non-stop pressure to create chances that come naturally to winning teams.
That didn’t happen on Friday night in Brandon against the Wheat Kings, and the Warriors would go on to drop an 4-2 decision in Western Hockey League action.
Braden Miller got things going for the Warriors only 2:13 into the contest, when his harmless-looking shot from the point found its way through traffic in front and snuck past Brandon goaltender Ethan Kruger.
The Warriors carried the play the vast majority of the period and were outshooting Brandon a 7-1 at one point, but the Wheat Kings would find a way to come out of the frame tied when Vincent Iorio beat Warriors starter Jackson Unger high glove side with a shot from the right faceoff circle.
The game turned in the second period, and other than a handful of opportunities, the Warriors were unable to generate much pressure, and Brandon took the lead 10:08 into the frame.
Ridly Greig forced a turnover at the Warriors blueline and went in on a breakaway, with Unger making the initial stop. The bad luck that has plagued Moose Jaw all season reared its head, though, as the puck bounced off Denton Mateychuk as he raced to cover the play and behind Unger.
Brandon put on a power play clinic for their second goal, with efficient puck movement leading to a shot from the point by Nolan Ritche that eluded Unger to the low right corner with 4:04 to play. The Warriors attempted to challenge a possible offside after the goal, but the marker would count.
The Wheat Kings outshot the Warriors 12-3 in the period, including 8-0 over the period’s final eight minutes.
Warriors captain Daemon Hunt pulled Moose Jaw within one with 6:47 gone in the third, with his shot from the point taking a similar pattern to Miller’s goal, sneaking through traffic and finding the net. The goal was the Brandon product’s fifth of the season.
That would be the last bit of good news for the Warriors on the night, as despite pushing back in the final frame, they’d be unable to find the equalizer, and Riley Ginnell scored an empty netter with 14 seconds remaining to close out the contest.
Unger turned aside 23 shots in his WHL debut, while the Warriors fired 32 at Kruger.
Moose Jaw was 0-for-3 on the power play, Brandon 1-for-2.
The Warriors fell to 7-9-0-2 with the loss, the Wheaties improved to 7-10-0-0.
The Warriors are back in action Saturday night during their Hockey Fights Cancer game against the Regina Pats. Game time is 7 p.m.
