Both the Moose Jaw Warriors and Brandon Wheat Kings were mired in a five-game losing streak heading into Friday’s Western Hockey League action.
Only one team played like they were desperate to end their streak.
The Wheat Kings were the better team in nearly every facet of the game as they skated to a 6-2 win at Mosaic Place.
“We got out-hit in our own rink. We got beat to every loose puck. We lost every battle. We lost every face-off of significance. They might as well have dropped the puck in our zone on the power play because as soon it hit the ice it was going back into our zone anyway,” said Warriors head coach Mike Stothers.
Stothers saw some positives in the Warriors’ 6-4 loss to Calgary Wednesday. There wasn’t a silver lining Friday.
“As good as we were in the other night — and I was so impressed by our intensity and tenacity — we were passengers tonight,” said Stothers.
“It was very disappointing.”
The six-game losing streak is the Warriors longest since they lost 11 straight games in January of 2009. The Warriors finished last in the WHL that season.
“You have to say to yourself ‘when is enough, enough?’ As far as I’m concerned that was about four games ago,” said Stothers.
The Warriors record drops to 14-23-3-4. They will host Swift Current Tuesday.
The Warriors jumped to a 1-0 lead when Bryson Gore scored on a rebound at the end of a choppy first period.
It was a good day for the newest Wheat Kings. Marek Kalus made a long pass to spring Taylor Cooper on a breakaway to tie the game and defenceman Nick Walters assisted on the first three Brandon goals.
“I had a busy day of travelling and I just wanted to come out and keep it simple. The defencemen tried to keep it simple and the forwards buried for us,” said Walters who drove from Everett to Abbotsford, B.C. at 5 a.m., caught a flight to Calgary, then flew from Calgary to Regina where the Wheat Kings bus picked him up to drive him to Moose Jaw.
Rene Hunter’s power play goal gave the Wheat Kings lead 2-1 after two periods and added to their lead thanks to a Tim McGauley goal 1:11 into the third. Chad Robinson scored and Jens Meilleur tallied short-handed to extend the Wheat Kings lead to 5-1.
Justin Kirsch’s 15th goal of the season came on the power play, but Nick Buonassisi replied for the Wheat Kings to round out the scoring.
Justin Paulic made 32 saves in the loss for the Warriors.
Curtis Honey also made 32 saves as he earned the win for Brandon.
