A three-goal first period was all the Saskatoon Contacts needed, as they rolled to a 6-1 win over the Moose Jaw WINMAR AAA Warriors on Friday night and take a 1-0 lead in the first round series.

Connor Miller got Moose Jaw’s lone goal for his first of the playoffs just over 10 minutes left in the third period.

The Warriors would finish the game 0-for-2 on the powerplay and 1-for-2 on the penalty kill.

Ryan Hicks would take the loss allowing two goals on 22 shots, after relieving Warriors’ starter Ryan Bain late in the first period, as he gave up three goals on nine shots.

Moose Jaw came into Friday’s game with the momentum and the energy through the first 12 minutes of the first period.

That all changed in favour of the Contacts after an unsuccessful powerplay for the Moose Jaw gave Saskatoon the boost they needed.

Zach Moore would get the scoring started for Saskatoon. Mason Karakochuk would float one on net on the near side and starter Ryan Bain though he had it in his glove, but it wasn’t, and Moore was on the door step to tap it in to open the scoring 1-0. Tyrone Sobry would get the secondary assist.

Just over two minutes later, Moore would strike once again. On an odd-man rush and Moore would fire a perfectly placed shot over the pad and under the blocker to make it 2-0 with 2:45 left in the period.

Saskatoon would extend their lead to 3-0 45 seconds later, Rhett Ewen would get the puck off a Moose Jaw turnover at the Warriors blueline and would turn and fire it five-hole on Bain for his first of the playoffs.

That would end the night for Bain allowing three goals on nine shots, and Hicks would come into the game in relief.

Moose Jaw would find themselves down 3-0 after 20 minutes. The Warriors led in the shot department 16-10 after one period.

The Warriors would push back in the second period but couldn’t beat the Contacts’ starter Logan Edmonstone who remained perfect through two periods.

Saskatoon would add one goal in the second period on the powerplay. With 8:01 left in the frame and six seconds left in the powerplay, Chestolowski would fire one through Hicks to make it 4-0.

That’s how the second period would end with the Warriors down in shots 24-20.

Connor Miller would get Moose Jaw on the board and break the shutout streak for Edmonstone. With 10:48 left in the period, Cooper Buhay would find Miller on a stretch pass behind the Contacts defense and was sprung on a breakaway. Miller would wait out an outstretched Edmonstone and tuck it home for his first of the playoffs to make it 4-1.

Over four minutes later, Chestolowski would strike once again. He would find some space on the right wing and break in and ripped it over the blocker of Hicks to make it 5-1.

Saskatoon would add an empty net goal late in the period to make the final 6-1.

The final shot count was 31-27 Saskatoon.

The Warriors will try to even the series at 1-1, as Game 2 will be at the Moose Jaw Events on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.