Game Preview: Warriors at Pats

The Warriors and Pats round one at the Brandt Centre tonight.

With the playoffs two weeks away (to the day) and each team possessing only a handful of games this contest could regenerate the hostility within this Trans Canada Rivalry. As well, the two teams are still jockeying for positioning within the conference, even though the Warriors are guaranteed home ice in the first round, the pursuit for the Eastern Conference's top seed is still the objective. The Warriors come in to tonight's game with 41 wins, the second best season total in club history.

The Warriors (41-18-6-2--90), the East Division Champions, take on their provincial and divisional rival, the Regina Pats (35-25-5-2--77) tonight for the seventh time this season. The season series has gone this way thus far, the Warriors won the first three meetings and then the Pats have won the last three. Of the four games only two have been decided by a goal or more. And three of the games needed an extra frame to decide the winner. The most recent meeting happened on Feb. 24th at the Brandt Centre where the Pats won 8-2. In the first five meetings, the goal differential was 2 (13-11, Warriors). Overall, the Warriors have scored 15 goals and allowed 19 in the season series. Leading the club against the Pats is Cody Beach with 5 points (1G, 4A) in five games. Dallas Ehrhardt has four assists in this six-game series. Last season, the Warriors went 7-0-1-0 against the Pats. Over the last five seasons, the Warriors hold a 21-12-3-2 record in the match-up.

The Warriors are 5-3-1-1 in their last ten. The Warriors have scored 237 goals this season and allowed 202. Moose Jaw Warriors have the 2nd most wins (28) on home ice in the WHL and a road record of 13-15-4-1. When leading after the first period, the Warriors are 22-1-2. That unblemished record was broken by the Hitmen Friday, Jan.13th. And when leading after 40 minutes, they hold a record of 28-1-5. The one loss held by the Warriors when leading after 40 minutes was tarnished by the Pats on Dec. 9th, 2011. When the Warriors outshoot their opponent they have a 30-10-3-2 record. The Warriors have a 19-5-6-2 record in one goal games. With 41 wins, that is second highest win total in club history. In 2005-06, the club registered 44 wins and tallied 96 points, team highs. For the third time in club history, the Warriors clinched the East Division Championship.

The Warriors have the seventh ranked power play (23.4%) scoring 71 goals with the man advantage. The club has the 10th best penalty kill (79.6%) in the league. The Moose Jaw Warriors have played in 14 overtime games, (tied) third most in the WHL, with Everett. They have collected 20 points from games in extra time. The Warriors have 10 players with 10 or more goals this season and three players with 20+ goals and three players have hit the 30+ mark this campaign. The Warriors come in on a four-game winning streak.

In a titanic clash, the Moose Jaw Warriors earned a point on the road in Edmonton on Wednesday night. The Warriors held a 2-1 heading in the 3rd, but the game ended 3-2 in OT. It was a 2-1 setback in the sequel of a home-and-home series with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Damien Ketlo made 37 saves on 38 shots to foil the Warriors in securing the East Division title on Tuesday night. In the first of a home-and-home, the Warriors took the first one 6-2. Joel Edmundson scored two goals. Their 40th win of the season came against the Prince Albert Raiders Friday night at the Art Hauser Centre. A 4-3 come-from-behind win was lead by James Henry, three points and Cam Braes, two goals.

Leading Scorers: Braes (76), Henry (68), Howden (62), Kirsch (52) and Cody Beach (49)

The rematch takes place at Mosaic Place on Saturday night. There is a Co-op Family Skate following the second last home of the regular season.

You can watch all the live action on WHL Live http://whl.neulion.com/whl/. Or if listening suits your fancy tune into James Gallo, the voice of the Warriors, on Country100FM at http://www.country100fm.com/  for tonight`s game and for Saturday`s game if you can't make it down to Mosaic.