Warriors push Blades to brink of elimination with overtime victory in Game 3

Game 3 needed overtime, but the Moose Jaw Warriors found a way to defeat the Saskatoon Blades 3-2 to extend their series lead to three games.

Moose Jaw product Atley Calvert originally was credited with the overtime winner, but Weyburn’s Cordel Larson was the one throwing the puck on net off a Blades defender and across the goal line.

Larson was all smiles post-game, as the Warriors are now just one win away from advancing to the second round of the WHL playoffs.

“We knew it was going to be a dogfight and it came down to the very end. We couldn’t be happier to go up 3-0 in the series,” Larson said.

However, this series is a long way away from ending, and both sides believe it.

“It’s not even close to being done. We know these guys are a strong team and they’re going to have their best game (Wednesday),” Larson said.

Blades head coach Brennan Sonne says the team will take things one game at a time.

“As long as you’re breathing, you’re fighting. As long as you can catch your breath, you’re fighting and we’re breathing,” Sonne said.

“We have to play Game 4 before Game 5, which is before Game 6, which is before Game 7. The next thing on the docket is Game 4 (Wednesday), so that’s all you worry about.”

Saskatoon came out flying in the opening frame.

Jaydon Wiens cashed in on the power play on a backdoor pass from Noah Boyko for the crucial first tally of the game just over three minutes in. 

Moose Jaw would answer late in the opening frame when Eric Alarie danced around Blades forward Kyle Crnkovic before sniping it past Nolan Maier to knot the game at 1-1.

Moose Jaw would take the lead thanks to a Martin Rysavy one-timer in the slot, making it 2-1 Warriors in the second period.

The Warriors outshot the Blades 16-4 in the second frame, as Maier made multiple key stops to keep the deficit to just a goal.

Fast forward to the dying minutes of the third, when the Warriors took a four-minute double-minor penalty for boarding. That gave Saskatoon a golden opportunity to tie the game back up.

With just 45 seconds left, Blades forward Brandon Lisowsky found a loose puck in the slot and beat a screened Carl Tetachuk for the crucial tying goal.

Despite the late goal, Moose Jaw found a way to get the win to push Saskatoon to the brink of elimination.

Warriors head coach Mark O’Leary says the team didn’t panic or lose focus after giving up the tying goal late in the third period.

“If you get knocked down, you have to get up fast. That’s a momentum swing for them, it was a big goal for them,” O’Leary said.

“Our group just did what they’ve done all season long, they get up fast and punch back.”