PRINCE ALBERT -- Another night, another close game that didn’t end up in the Moose Jaw Warriors’ favour.
Despite falling behind 2-0 in the second period on Tuesday in Prince Albert, the Warriors still managed to keep things close throughout and found themselves within a goal of tying things up late before dropping a 3-1 decision in Western Hockey League action.
Moose Jaw fell to 14-44-6-2 with the loss and remain in 11th place in the Eastern Conference, four points back of Regina. Prince Albert improves to 37-23-5-1 and are first in the East Division, a point up on Brandon and Saskatoon.
Prince Albert wasted little time taking the lead on the night, with Lukas Dragicevic finishing off a give-and-go with Nail Crocker by scoring on a shot from the right faceoff circle only 1:27 into the contest.
Daxon Rudolph then gave the Raiders a 2-0 lead at the 4:12 mark of the second, heralding a period where Prince Albert would carry the action much of the frame. Warriors goaltender Josh Banini continued his solid play as of late, though, and would stop 14 shots in the frame, including a handful of grade A chances that could have seen the Raiders extend their lead.
Moose Jaw would get within striking distance of tying things up with 7:19 gone in the third. Casey Brown took a feed from the corner from Luke Moroz and would rifle a shot from the high slot top shelf blocker side on Raiders netminder Max Hildebrand.
That would be as close as the Warriors would get, though, as Tomas Mrsic scored on a breakaway into the empty net with 1:06 remaining.
Banini finished with 43 saves on the night, including 17 in the third period, while Hildebrand turned aside 23 for the Raiders.
The Warriors are back in action on Friday night for their penultimate game of the season when they travel to Swift Current, with puck drop at 7 p.m at the Innovationplex. Their final game of the season goes Saturday at 7 p.m at Temple Gardens Centre, also against Swift Current.
Prince Albert wraps up their regular season with a home-and-home set against the Saskatoon Blades in Saskatoon on Friday and in Prince Albert on Saturday.
