GAME PREVIEW: ROYALS AT WARRIORS

 

Game Preview: Royals vs. Warriors

A rare mid-week game has the Warriors looking to continue the success at home they have enjoyed all season. With 18 wins on Mosaic Place ice the Warriors sit in first place in the East Division and second in the Eastern Conference. Saskatoon Blades and Regina Pats are within striking distance of the Warriors sitting two and three points back, respectively. The Pats host the Warriors on Saturday in a crucial divisional game. The Warriors will face the Blades at Mosaic next Friday. The Warriors are trying to chase down the Edmonton Oil Kings who hold a six-point lead heading in to action tonight.

The Warriors (26-14-4-1) face the Royals (14-26-2-3) for the first and only time this season. The history of this match-up is linked to the Chiliwack Bruins franchise. Last season, in their only meeting, the Warriors won 4-2 on New Year's Eve. The Warriors built a 3 goal lead in the first and captain Spencer Edwards sealed the game with an empty net goal. In the last five years, the Warriors are 4-0 versus Victoria, or Chiliwack.

The Warriors are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games. Moose Jaw has the second most wins on home ice with 18-3 and a road record of 8-11-2. When leading after the first period the Warriors are now 15-1-2. That unblemished record was broken by the Hitmen Friday, Jan.13th. When the Warriors outshoot their opponent they have a 15-6-2 record. The Warriors are 16-4-4 in one goal games. The Warriors have the ninth ranked power play (22.2%) and the eighth best penalty killing (80.4%) in the league. The Warriors have played in 10 overtime games (collecting 15 points) tied for most in the WHL, only the Red Deer Rebels have played in as many.

The start of the New Year saw the Warriors play six-games away from Moose Jaw. The Warriors finally returned home after 18 days on the road. Sunday night ended a weekend three game set Brandon was the night's opponent and the game was one-goal game until the Warriors scored five unanswered to make the final 8-2. Four Warriors registered three point nights. James Henry and Cam Braes each recorded a goal and two assists. Henry's goal was his first as a Warrior. Justin Kirsch had two goals and an assist. The fourth Warriors to register three points was Quinton Howden, he tallied three helpers. The second of two matches in Alberta saw the Warriors take on the Tigers in Medicine Hat. The Warriors tied the game on three separate occasions, but fell 6-3. Cam Braes scored his first goal as a Warrior, his 100th goal of his WHL career. Hitting the road once again, the Warriors traveled west to face the Calgary Hitmen at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The Warriors jumped out to a quick lead, Shayne Gwinner's point shot found the back of the net. The Hitmen answered with five straight, before Travis Brown made the game 5-2, which would be the final score.

Who to watch tonight:

Warriors Justin Kirsch has been on a tear since returning to the line-up. As a Warriors Kirsch is on a point-a-game clip, he has played 22 games and recorded 24 points. Newly acquired Cam Braes will skate on Mosaic Place ice for the second time. Since being obtained Braes has found his offensive touch as of late. He has recorded five points (2G, 3A) in three games. James Henry is also paying dividends since being acquired. Henry was one of four Warriors to register three points in the Brandon game Sunday night. On the other side, Jordan Fransoo, who was also a trade deadline acquisition from the Wheat Kings, has helped the Royals with some offense from the blueline. Fransoo is one of two NHL drafted Royals'. Fransoo is an Ottawa Senator 7th round pick in 2011 draft. The other is Tyler Stahl, he is a Carolina Hurricanes 6th round pick from the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

The Warriors after tonight play the Kootenay Ice for the final time this regular season on Friday at Mosaic Place. Then the team travels 74 kms east on the #1 to face the Pats in Regina on Saturday night. The Warriors will play another mid-week game this time on Tuesday in Swift Current before a home ice weekend set. Game times are 7 p.m. local. All games can be heard on Country100FM with James Gallo, the voice of the Moose Jaw Warriors. Check out Facebook http://www.facebook.com/mjwarriors and our Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/MJWARRIORS for live updates, latest info and more stuff. To watch any of the Warriors road games check the WHL Live site http://whl.neulion.com/whl/