MOOSE JAW -- A close, hard-fought, playoff series with a bunch of one-goal games that go to overtime?
You’ll have to excuse Moose Jaw hockey fans if they feel like they’re going through a bit of deja vu with the Moose Jaw WINMAR Warriors and Swift Current Legionnaires in their Sask Male AAA Hockey League semifinal series.
The Warriors were able to stay alive in the best-of-five battle on Monday night, taking a 3-2 overtime win in Game 3 at the Temple Gardens Centre in Moose Jaw. As a result, the Legionnaires now lead the series two-games-to-one, with Game 4 set for Wednesday in Swift Current.
After a scoreless first period, the Warriors were able to get on the board first when captain Brennan Brown scored the lone goal of the second period, giving Moose Jaw a 1-0 lead through 40 minutes.
Hudson Sayers then made it a two-goal lead with 7:14 gone in the third, but Swift Current wasn’t about to go quietly.
Carter Moen got the Legionnaires back within a goal 43 seconds after Sayers’ marker, and Trae Peterson would tie things up with 6:02 remaining in regulation, eventually sending the game to overtime.
There, it was Kierin Osberg’s turn to play the hero, as he scored the game-winner for Moose Jaw with 2:47 remaining in the first overtime period.
It’s the second game to go to overtime in the series, with Swift Current winning Game 1 2-1 in double OT on Friday and then taking a 2-1 in Game 2 on Sunday.
Luke McKechnie picked up the win in goal with 39 saves, while Berney Weston had 43 stops for the Legionnaires.
Game 4 goes Wednesday in Swift Current at 7 p.m. at the Innovationplex, with Game 5 if necessary back in Moose Jaw on Friday at Temple Gardens Centre.
The other SMAAAHL semifinal sees the Regina Pat Canadians leading their series with the Saskatoon Blazers two-games-to-one, with Game 4 set for Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Rod Hamm Memorial in Saskatoon.
