The Moose Jaw Generals strengthened their hold on second place in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League on Thursday night in the Bridge City.

The Generals knocked off the Saskatoon Contacts, 2-1, in the second last game of the regular season for Moose Jaw.

The win combined with the Notre Dame Hounds’ 3-2 loss to the Regina Pat Canadians moves the Generals to five points up on the Hounds for second place in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League.

The Generals and Hounds will meet on Saturday, a win for Moose Jaw would clinch second place. Notre Dame two games in hand.

All three goals on Thursday came in the first period as the Contacts opened the scoring just over four minutes into the game on a goal from Brody Vogel.

The Generals answered back just 3:04 later when Reece Newkirk potted his 17th of the season, on the power play, to tie the game up at one.

It stayed that way until the final minute of the first with the Generals back on the power play and defenceman Austin Johnston blasted home his fourth of the season with just 20 seconds remaining in the frame.

That goal held up the rest of the way as the game-winner with the Contacts out-shooting the Generals, 36-30, in the game.

Matt Lenz turned away 35 shots to pick up the win in goal for Moose Jaw, improving his record to 15-4-0 on the year. He has a SMAAAHL best 0.930 save percentage this season and sits third in goals against average at 1.94.

Moose Jaw went 2-for-9 on the power play and were 8-for-8 on the penalty kill as they picked up their third straight win.

The Generals and Hounds hit the ice on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. at the Duncan McNeill Arena in Wilcox.