After battling for 65 minutes, the Moose Jaw Warriors and Edmonton Oil Kings went to a shootout Friday night, and unfortunately for the tribe they came up short falling 4-3.

Both teams were fighting for their ice throughout the opening period. When in the attacking zone the Warriors did a good job moving the puck from below the goal line or the wall to the front of the net, while the Oil Kings were able to create several neutral zone turnovers resulting in rushes across the blueline.

With nine minutes to go in the period, Moose Jaw tried to come out of their zone but Edmonton’s Davis Koch was able to get in their passing lane and create turnover. Koch pushed the puck to Lane Bauer on the high left circle where he ripped a shot past Zach Sawchenko for the game’s first goal.

Three minutes later, Moose Jaw found themselves on a power play. Jiri Smejkal won the faceoff in the left circle, the puck came to Josh Brook at the point who quickly set up Nikita Popugaev for a shot inside the right circle. Oil Kings goalie Alec Dillon got a piece of the puck but not enough as it trickled over the goal line to tie the game at one.

The battle for ice continued in the second period, both teams pressed for opportunities and when they did both goalies made several dramatic saves.

Approaching the middle of the second Moose Jaw found themselves once again on the power play and for the second time in the game they were able to capitalize. Brayden Point moved the puck quickly across the Edmonton like to Popugaev on the left wing. The import rookie spotted Jayden Halbgewachs streaking on the right and feathered a pass on to his stick. Halbgewachs drove the Oil Kings net and finished with a shot over the left arm of Dillon to give the Warriors the lead.

Edmonton outshot the tribe 12-8 in the period and they were able to notch and equalizer while on their power play in the final minute. Lane Bauer dangled through a pair of Warriors and then slid the puck past the goal line to tie the game at two heading to the intermission.

2:40 in to the third period, Warriors Captain Brayden Point was able to dangle around the Edmonton defenders and started to rush towards the net. As Point looked to take a shot he was interfered with from behind and the referees called a penalty shot. Point made good on his opportunity, scoring his fifth of the season, giving Moose Jaw a 3-2 lead.
Approaching the midway point of the third the Warriors had a faceoff inside their zone.

The puck was bouncing off the draw and Tyson Gruninger dove and swatted the puck to the bottom of the left circle where Kole Gable smacked in a game tying goal.
Teams created opportunities throughout the remainder of regulation but neither was able to score a game winner. The three-on-three overtime period had plenty of excitement but no goals, sending the game to a shootout.

Brayden Point and Colton Kehler both scored in the opening round; Dryden Hunt and Lane Bauer were both denied in the second round; in the third round Nikita Popugaev wasn’t able to convert while Brett Pollock snapped a shot in to the net to end the game.

The Moose Jaw Warriors finish the weekend Saturday at home with their first meeting of the season against the Kootenay Ice. Western Nissan Warriors Hockey on Country 100 starts with the PreGame Show at 6:40pm.

Next week the team will head on the road for a Central Division road trip with games against the Kootenay Ice, Calgary Hitmen, and Edmonton Oil Kings.