The Moose Jaw Warriors have the Regina Pats’ number so far this season.

Moose Jaw improved to 5-0 against their Trans-Canada rivals with a 6-3 win at the Brandt Centre in Regina on Wednesday night. 

That kicked off a mini three-game series between the two teams this week with the second game coming up on Friday night at Mosaic Place.

It wasn’t the cleanest game for the Warriors overall, but when they were on, they were able to takeover, with their three goals in a 43-second span during the second period as an example.

“Our speed and our ability to create down low was a big part of the team’s success,” said forward Jayden Halbgewachs after practice on Thursday at the Red Knight Arena. “A lot of our success comes from off the rush and in the offensive zone, we were just putting pucks through to the net like (Brandon) Schuldhaus for example, all he did was put simple shots to the net and we had bodies in front of the net and he scored two key goals.”

While the Warriors are walking away happy with their offensive game, the team feels that they have room to improve on the defensive side of the ice coming out of the game.

Goalie Brody Willms made a number of key saves throughout the game and limiting the need for those will be the focus going into Friday’s contest.

“It’s just simple things that we need to clean up, not letting them get behind us, they got their first goal on a breakaway where they got in behind us,” said Halbgewachs. “Giving them odd-man chances, we can’t have D pinching or three forwards caught deep, so that’s the big thing for us.”

These two rivals were already at each others throats by the end of Wednesday’s game with emotions spilling over into some fights and 10-minute misconducts.

With another 120 minutes in front of them between two games this weekend, controlling emotions will be the focus for both teams in an effort to come away with the four available points.

“Regina was pretty upset near the end of the game, which is expected when you’re losing in a rivalry game,” said Halbgewachs. “For us, we need to keep playing our game and good things are going to happen for us and if the other team gets upset, we can’t fight back, just let them take the penalties and take advantage on the power play.”

The Warriors and Pats hit the ice at 7 p.m. on Friday night at Mosaic Place. The Pre-Game Show is on the air at 6:40 p.m. on Country 100.

The two teams will finish off their week by meeting on Sunday afternoon in Regina, puck drops at 2 p.m.