Warriors squeeze out double-overtime victory in Game 1

Someone had to be the hero in what was a low-scoring Game 1 between the Moose Jaw Warriors and Lethbridge Hurricanes.

That hero was Jagger Firkus.

Firkus scored 19:43 into double overtime to lift the Warriors to a 2-1 victory over the Hurricanes.

Quality chances throughout regulation and overtime were tough to come by for both sides.

Joe Arnsten of the Hurricanes took a boarding penalty with 1:01 remaining in double-overtime, sending the Warriors to the powerplay, Moose Jaw and giving them a chance to break the deadlock.

The Hangar was rocking for the Firkus Circus!#FullFlight | #WHLPlayoffs | @SeattleKraken pic.twitter.com/WCrqXO8hNT

— x – Moose Jaw Warriors (@MJWARRIORS) April 1, 2023

Firkus said he knew someone had to eventually end the game, and he felt like the best moment to do that was on the powerplay.

“I think it was about time someone put a puck in the net, and the opportunity came and I put it home and I’m happy it worked,” he said.

He didn’t have much to share about how he was able to put the puck in other than that he was ready for the opportunity.

“You can’t really expect anything, especially in overtime. You have to be ready for everything,” he added. “It was a good shot and I just took the rebound and smacked it home, thankfully.”

All four Warriors players who were suspended for WHL rule violations are back with the team and will play.

Connor Ungar starts for the Warriors despite not playing since early February.

Warriors coach didn't give any details about the incident and didn't say much #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/2lZJnuWsu4

— Shane (@ShaneC06) April 1, 2023

The win wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible play of goaltender Connor Ungar, who made 50 saves in the victory.

Ungar was playing his first game in two months after being one of the four Warriors players suspended by the league for violating its rules.

He said he was happy with the outcome of the first game of the series.

“It’s an important game and the boys showed up do to a job and we did it. For me it was just focusing on one shot at a time and, fortunately, the boys scored,” Ungar said.

His coach Mark O’Leary said after game that Ungar’s performance just shows why he’s one of the top goalies in the entire Western Hockey League.

“I truly believe he’s the best goaltender in the league,” O’Leary said. “He’s professional in how he prepares himself, he’s a dressing room favourite with his teammates … He was our best player all season long and he was our best player tonight.”

The only other scoring came from Logan Dowhaniuk off a feed from Firkus to open the scoring for the Warriors early in the second period.

That goal stood until 12:04 into the second when the Warriors were caught in their own end on the powerplay. They turned it over and Cole Shepard shot the puck on net and it was juggled by Unger. While he was juggling and trying to find the puck, Ryder Korczak grabbed the puck and tried to clear it, but got lost in Ungar’s equipment and eventually found its way into the back of the net.

Bryan Thompson made 52 saves in the loss for Lethbridge.

Game two of the series is scheduled for Saturday at 7 p.m.