For the second time in the last three games, the Moose Jaw Warriors erased a third period deficit as they came from behind Saturday to beat the Kootenay Ice 4-3 at Mosaic Place, improving their record to 4-0-1-1.

The Warriors were able to establish their speed and transition game early which led to scoring opportunities off the rush.

Just over five minutes in to the period, the Warriors controlled the puck inside the Kootenay line, Dallas Valentine came down from the right blueline and snapped a puck along the ice towards the net where captain Brayden Point deflected in his sixth goal of the season.

At 13:13, Max Patterson rimmed the puck hard from the neutral zone to the Warriors left corner, the puck came hard off the wall and right to Luke Philp who scored a game-tying goal.

Just 25 seconds later, Philp won an offensive zone faceoff in the Warriors right circle, Jason Wenzel let a wrist shot go in to track that found the back of the net to give the visitors the lead.

Moose Jaw pressed in the final minute of the first period, Tanner Faith came to the right circle, where he put a “slap-pass” to Nikita Popugaev at the bottom of the left circle where he tied the game at two with his fourth of the year.

Kootenay’s fore-check created problems for the Warriors coming out of their zone, they stepped in to passes and created turnovers which led to more time on the attack.

At 7:05, Ice veteran Luke Philp stepped into a Warriors clearing attempt, creating a turnover and dishing the puck to Zak Zborosky, who skated between the circles and put a shot past Brody Willms to give the Ice their second lead of the game.

Moose Jaw attacked from the start of the third period and at 4:19 they received their rewards for their efforts.  Dryden Hunt slid the puck to the right circle for Nikita Popugaev who blasted a shot to the back of the net for his second of the game, tying it at three.

For the majority of the third, the Warriors had a strong attack in the Kootenay zone, they were aggressive along the walls and were able to push the puck to the front of the net for scoring opportunities.

With 1:17 left in the game, Brayden Point skated behind the Kootenay net and came out at the left goal line, he was able to spot Dryden Hunt between the circles where he snapped in his fourth of the year and the eventual game winner.

Nikita Popugaev finished with two goals and three points, Brayden Point had a goal and three points, Dryden Hunt had a goal and two points, Luke Philp led Kootenay with a goal and three points.

Moose Jaw is now off the remainder of the Thanksgiving Long Weekend, but coming up on Tuesday, they’ll load the bus and head west for a three-game Central Division road trip for games against Kootenay, Calgary, and Edmonton.

Western Nissan Warriors Hockey on Country 100 returns Wednesday when the Warriors road trip opens with a rematch against the Ice.  Coverage from Western Financial Place starts with the Westrum Lumber Timber Mart Pre-Game Show at 6:40pm.