The Winnipeg Ice have quickly discovered this latest obstacle won’t be easy to get past.
The Western Hockey League squad ran into trouble early, fought back hard but finally fell 5-3 to the Moose Jaw Warriors on Saturday night at Wayne Fleming Arena in Game 2 of their second-round, best-of-seven series.
The series is locked up 1-1 and now moves west to the Saskatchewan city for games Tuesday and Wednesday.
Winnipeg swept the Medicine Hat Tigers to open the playoffs.
The Ice surrendered four goals after just 10 minutes of the contest. Brayden Yager fired a pair of goals for the Warriors, while Ryder Korczak and Martin Rysavy supplied singles.
After a scoreless middle frame, the Ice stormed back with third-period tallies by Zack Ostapchuk, Connor McLennan and Carson Latimer but couldn’t generate the equalizer. Josh Hoekstra scored an empty-netter for the visitors.
The Ice allowed three power-play goals and scored just one of their own in nine opportunities.
The Moose Jaw victory guarantees a Game 5 next Saturday at the rink on the University of Manitoba campus.
Warriors goalie Connor Unger stopped 32 shots, while Ice puckstoppers Mason Beaupit and Daniel Hauser combined on just 15 saves.
— staff
