Since returning from North Dakota, the Moose Jaw Generals have struggled in league play.

The Generals picked up a 2-1 win over the last place Notre Dame Argos on Thursday night and then followed that up with a pair of sub-par efforts in Yorkton this weekend, falling 4-3 to the Maulers on Saturday and 4-1 on Sunday.

“We got what we deserved, we just weren't good enough to be honest with you,” said Ray Wareham, head coach of the Generals. “You can't play the way that we did both days and expect to win. Too many turnovers and too many mistakes.”

The weekend was the second straight weekend road trip that the Generals have came away from without a win. Moose Jaw fell below .500 with the losses as well, dropping to 5-6-0-2 on the year.

“We're not helping ourselves, we need to simplify our game and it's just the opposite, we've got guys trying to do too much,” said Wareham. “We're struggling with our scoring right now and we've got guys on the back end that are trying to do too much, they're trying to help, but they're hurting us.”

After playing four games at the tournament in Grand Forks, North Dakota and then three games in four nights this past week, Wareham feels that the team might benefit from having a couple of days off to start this week.

“We've played a lot of hockey in a short period of time and we've been on the road for quite a bit to start the year,” he said. “It really showed it's wear and tear on us this weekend.”

Saturday's game saw the Generals fall behind early with Yorkton scoring two goals in the first period. They cut the lead to 3-2 after two thanks to goals from Branden Klatt and Turner Ripplinger, but the Maulers restored the two-goal lead early in the third.

Ripplinger scored his second of the game, and fourth in the past two games, late in the third period, but it wasn't enough.

“We never really did find our legs,” said Wareham on Saturday's loss. “They gave us some chances and we were able to score, but it just wasn't really a very close game.”

Saturday's effort was followed up by a flat start on Sunday in a 4-1 loss. Yorkton built up a 4-0 lead thanks to three second period goals, two coming shorthanded by Damien Bentz just 2:02 apart.

“We had some meetings and thought it was going to be a better effort, but it just wasn't there,” said Wareham.

Bhody Magnusson scored in the third period, but it was again too little, too late for the Generals.

Wareham said the team's struggles right now are correctable and they just need to take a simpler approach to the game.

“We've got outlets and we're not moving the puck, we're trying to beat the extra guy and it gets poked off our stick and we're scrambling, just little things like that,” said Wareham. “When you struggle to score, it's just natural that you see guys do too much.

“We've got a couple of days off here,” he continued, “hopefully the guys can regroup and come up with a solid effort on Wednesday.”

The Generals will make the short trip out to Wilcox on Wednesday night to face off with Josh Brook and the Notre Dame Hounds.