MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- The Moose Jaw Warriors gave the Lethbridge Hurricanes everything they could handle on Tuesday night in Lethbridge, but in the end, their opposition’s stacked line-up proved to much to handle.
Logan Wormald scored twice in the final 5:36, including the game-tying and game-winning goals, and the Hurricanes would go on to a 5-3 victory in Western Hockey League action.
The game marked the debut of goaltender Brady Smith and forward Landen Ward for the Warriors, who were also facing Hurricanes forward Brayden Yager and goaltender Jackson Unger for the first time since Monday’s blockbuster trade.
Moose Jaw fell to 6-16-3-1 with the loss and remain tied with Regina for 10th place in the Eastern Conference, while Lethbridge improved to 13-10-1-1 and moved into a tie for sixth in the Conference with Brandon.
The Hurricanes saw to it there would be no wait for their new standout players to face their former team -- Yager centered Leo Braillard and Miguel Marques in the Lethbridge opening line-up and, as expected, Unger was their starting goaltender.
Lethbridge proceeded to get off to a great start, hemming the Warriors into their zone for much of the opening eight minutes and outshooting Moose Jaw 6-0 in that span.
Smith was solid to start his first appearance against his former team, though, and the game remained scoreless through the first 10 minutes.
Smith ended up making the first big save of the game when he stopped Trae Johnson on a chance in close on the Hurricanes’ first power play opportunity with 7:30 to play in the period.
Lethbridge appeared to score the game’s opening goal with 4:12 remaining in the opening frame, but after a lengthy delay due to the in-rink phone not working and a referee cell phone call to the video official, the marker was called back.
That goal had come on a delayed penalty, and a high-sticking minor 17 seconds later put the Hurricanes on a five-on-three for over a minute-and-a-half.
It would be the Warriors would would strike first on that Lethbridge power play.
Rilen Kovacevic jumped on a turnover at the Warriors blueline and went in on a breakaway, beating Unger with a shot blocker side for the 1-0 lead with 3:45 to play in the opening period.
That edge would hold through the opening 20 minutes despite the Hurricanes outshooting the Warriors 16-3.
The Hurricanes tied things up 2:38 into the second, with Hayden Pakkala taking a touch pass in front of the net from Carson Adair and finding the back of the net.
Seconds after that goal, Smith had to be sharp on a breakaway by Yager, and he’d make the big save to preserve the tie.
Moments later, Moose Jaw regained the lead.
Pavel McKenzie broke in on his wing and outdueled pair of Hurricanes defenders before putting shot top shelf over Unger’s glove 59 seconds after the tying goal.
Lethbridge tied the game again with 10:35 gone in the second, with Noah Chadwick scoring on the power play when his point shot redirected in front and found the top corner of the net.
There things stood until 9:17 remained in the third period, when the Warriors regained the lead.
Lynden Lakovic did the honours, getting off a shot from the left faceoff circle on the power play and putting the puck bardown glove side for the 3-2 lead.
The Hurricanes tied the game once again with 5:36 remaining, with Logan Wormald finishing off a great shift in the Warriors’ zone with a wide-open one-timer from Brayden Edwards.
Wormald then scored the winner with 1:02 to play, taking a pass from Edwards from behind the net and burying a shot from the left face-off circle for their first lead of the game.
Yager then finished things off with less than one second to play, scoring an empty-netter to make the final score 5-3.
Smith finished the game with 34 saves in his Warriors debut, Unger had 18 saves for the Hurricanes.
The Warriors are back in action Friday night when Swift Current Broncos are in town for Teddy Bear Toss Night. Game time is 7 p.m. at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
