The Moose Jaw Warriors couldn’t hold their one-goal lead in the third period last night.  The Medicine Hat Tigers scored three in the final frame for a 3-1 win over the Tribe at Canalta Centre.

The loss kicked off a three-game weekend for the Warriors, they’ll get a chance to redeem themselves on Sunday afternoon when Medicine Hat comes to Mosaic Place.

Nikita Popugaev scored the Warriors’ lone goal in the first period and that lead held for much of the game.

Throughout the first period the Warriors and Tigers fought for their opportunities.  Medicine Hat looked to use their speed through the neutral zone, while Moose Jaw did a great job creating turnovers and getting extra attack time.

With under seven minutes left in the first period, Captain Brayden Point created a turnover in the middle of the Tigers zone and moved the puck to the Tigers right corner where Dryden Hunt took a couple of steps off the boards and then made a beautiful pass to Popugaev on top of the Medicine Hat crease where he guided in his 12th goal of the year.

In the second period, the team’s exchanges chances, but neither was able to put the puck over the goal line and the Warriors remained in front 1-0 after two periods.

Medicine Hat outshot the Warriors 16-7 in the third period and were able to produce a game tying goal at 8:47 when they created a turnover in the neutral zone and Matt Bradley quickly came inside the Warriors line and snapped a shot over the glove of goalie Brody Willms.

The see-saw battled continued throughout the rest of the period and then with just over a minute left in regulation the Warriors got bit by a bad break,  Tigers defenseman David Quenneville took a shot from just on top of the Warriors right circle, the puck went off a Moose Jaw stick and rainbowed over Willms to give the Tigers their first lead.

Medicine Hat added an empty net goal inside the final minute, completing the comeback as they upset the Warriors 3-1.

Moose Jaw’s busy weekend continues Saturday when they’re back at home for their first and only meeting of the season against the Prince George Cougars.  Western Nissan Warriors Hockey returns to Country 100 starting with the PreGame Show at 6:40 p.m.

The Warriors weekend concludes Sunday with a return matchup against the Medicine Hat Tigers, 4 p.m., at Mosaic Place.