MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- The Moose Jaw Warriors and Saskatoon Blades went into their Western Hockey League Eastern Conference final expecting a close and tight-checking series, and through the first three games that’s exactly what’s happened.
After the two teams split overtime wins to open the series last weekend, the Warriors took a 3-1 victory in Game 3 at the Moose Jaw Events Centre on Tuesday night to take a two-game-to-one lead in the best-of-seven battle.
Each of the games have been as advertised, putting a premium on making as few mistakes as possible and generating what chances you can while maintaining a solid defensive presence.
Seeing that style of play is no surprise to Warriors head coach Mark O’Leary and will remain no surprise in games going forward.
“Offence is hard to come by,” O’Leary said after the Warriors’ win in Game 3. “They check well, they do a great job through the neutral zone, they block a lot of shots, so we need to continue to stick with it, not get frustrated and stay patient in terms of generating offence.. we expect more of the same (tonight), we just need to make sure they see our best.”
The Warriors enjoyed one of their best starts to a game in the playoffs in Game 3. Even though Saskatoon opened scoring, seeing the team generate tons of pressure despite trailing -- and eventually being rewarded -- was naturally a positive sight for forward Martin Rysavy, who scored the game-winning goal in the third period.
“(Even while trailing) we keep playing the same and trusting one another, so that’s the most important thing for us and it’s making us stronger every game,” Rysavy said. “It’s not great to start like that, but we got the victory and that’s the most important thing for us.”
One thing that’s for certain is things aren’t going to get any easier, especially in a crucial Game 4 that could give the Warriors a stranglehold on the series or get the Blades right back into it.
“Every game from now on is the biggest game of the year and in some of our careers,” said Warriors goaltender Jackson Unger, the reigning WHL Goaltender of the Week. “There’s everything to play for, we cannot let off the gas no matter what. As the games go on, we’re getting closer and closer to where we want to be so we have to be at our best.”
And continuing to have rabid fan support will certainly help in that direction, Every game since the Game 1 of the Conference semifinal has been a sellout at the Moose Jaw Events Centre, with Game 4 no exception.
“It gets you going, you hear it in the tunnel with the Moose Jaw chants and all the towels flying around,” Unger said with a huge grin. “It makes us energized, it’s good to see that we have sold-out crowds and they’re all supporting us. We’re hearing it around the town, too, and when you show up to a sold-out rink, it’s pretty awesome.”
Puck drop for Game 4 is 7 p.m.
