Game Preview: Broncos at Warriors
The Warriors and Broncos meet for the second time in four days. The Warriors (30-14-5-1--66 points), clash with the Swift Current Broncos (19-25-2-3--43points) in another divisional match-up tonight. This time the Warriors are the hosts. The Warriors upset the trend between these two clubs when they won on the road on Tuesday night. The home team had dominated, prior to Tuesday; each home club had two wins in the four match-ups thus far. Tonight's game is the sixth of the eight meetings between these divisional rivals; the Warriors have won three of the five. Tuesday night the Broncos hosted the Warriors the road team spoiled the party by not only taking two points but also blanking the home team 3-0. Luke Siemens returned to guard the crease and made 32 saves. The Warriors hold a 3-2 advantage in the season series thus far in 2011-12. After tonight the Warriors will hook up again in the third week in February. Last season, the Warriors won the six game series by collecting four wins.
Last night the Warriors came away with a victory increasing their lead over the Saskatoon Blades to seven. A 2-1 win at Mosaic Place also increased the Warriors home win total to 21. Quinton Howden and Kenton Miller scored for the Warriors while Luke Siemens made 29 saves in the victory. Tuesday night the Warriors travelled west to face their division rival the Swift Current Broncos. Luke Siemens returned to the net and blanked the Broncos 3-0. Siemens made 32 saves for his third shutout of the season. For the second straight game, overtime was needed to declare a victor. The Warriors do leave Regina with a point, but lost 3-2 in overtime to the Pats Saturday night at the Brandt Centre. Moose Jaw held the lead through two periods before the Pats forced the contest into overtime.
The Warriors have five wins and one overtime loss in their last six, collecting eleven of a possible 12 points. Over that five game span, the club has scored 24 goals. Moose Jaw has the most wins on home ice with 21and a road record of 9-11-3. When leading after the first the Warriors are 18-1-2. That unblemished record was broken by the Hitmen Friday, Jan.13th. And when leading after forty minutes, they hold a record of 18-1-4. 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 19-6-3 record. The Warriors have a 18-4 record in one goal games. The Warriors have the 10th ranked power play (22.0%) and the eighth best penalty killing (81.2%) in the league. The Moose Jaw Warriors have played in 12 overtime games, (tied) most in the WHL. They have collected 18 points from games in extra time. The Warriors have 7 players with 10 or more goals this season.
Who to watch tonight. For the Broncos, Taylor Vause, the 20-year-old, leads the Broncos in all scoring categories. The Broncos centre has played 250 games in his WHL career recording 163 points. Colby Cave, the Broncos rookie, was acquired in the Cody Eakin trade, could be a player to watch for the next few years. For the Warriors Justin Kirsch has enjoyed some success against the Broncos in his career. Kirsch has recorded 5 points in four games over his career against Swift Current. Luke Siemens has 2-1 record with a 2.33 GAA and a .908 save percentage. Travis Brown is one defenseman fans and others should keep their eye on. The slick skating d-man can move both on the blades and the transition the puck out the defensive zone.
The game is the last one for the Warriors before getting back into action next Friday against the Blades at the Credit Union Centre. The Warriors return home to face the Prince Albert Raiders. The Warriors have 3-1 record against Prince Albert. Two wins at home and one win, one loss at the Art Hauser Centre. After that Saturday match-up with the Raiders, the Warriors play a three game stint in Alberta. Cam Braes returns to face his old team in Lethbridge. Then the team is off to Calgary and Red Deer.
Catch all the action live on Prairie Mobile Warriors Hockey on Country 100FM with the voice of the Warriors James Gallo. Follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/mjwarriors and Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/MJWARRIORS and check out our blog, http://officialblogofthemoosejawwarriors.blogspot.com
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