Focus and discipline key as Ice series moves to Moose Jaw

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This article was published 17/04/2023 (1256 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Ice hit the road Monday with a chink in their armour for the first time in the 2023 Western Hockey League playoffs.

The junior club faced its first test of adversity Saturday, falling 5-3 to the Moose Jaw Warriors in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semi-final series.

The outcome was monumental in many ways for the fourth-seeded Warriors. The club accomplished something it was unable to do when the squads met in the second round of last year’s playoffs: win in Winnipeg. The Ice dominated in their own barn in last season’s post-season clash, outscoring the Warriors 17-4 in three games.

Saturday’s defeat was only Winnipeg’s fifth this season at Wayne Fleming Arena.

Now tied 1-1 in the best-of-seven series, the teams head 650 KM west to the Saskatchewan city for Game 3, set for Tuesday at 8 p.m. (CT). A fourth game in Moose Jaw goes Wednesday night, with Game 5 scheduled for Saturday at Wayne Fleming Arena in Winnipeg.

“I’m not going to describe it as (a wakeup call),” Ice head coach James Patrick said Monday morning. “Others may. I just feel we got real undisciplined and our penalty-killing hurt us, and it allowed them to get a four-goal lead.”

The Ice were reeling from the game’s outset. The Warriors scored 62 seconds into the contest and then were awarded a five-minute power play, a portion of which was spent with a two-man advantage. The visitors added three goals within 90 seconds to jump out to 4-0 advantage before the mid-point of the opening period.

While the Ice staged an admirable comeback try — scoring three times to start the third period — it was simply too little, too late.

“It’s rare and it’s tough to come back when you give a lead like that. I really liked our first shift and then our second shift we were a little casual and passive and it ends up in the back of our net. That’s just the importance of being ready to play right off the bat — every line, get on for 30 (seconds) then get off,” said Patrick.

“You want to get your whole team into the game and we didn’t do a good enough job of that and before you know it, we’re down one and then took some penalties that cost us. That’s how I describe the first period.”

The focus heading into Game 3 is attention to detail on special teams. The Ice entered Game 2 firing an efficient 8-for-24 (33.33 per cent) with the man advantage but were a dismal 1-for-9 Saturday.

The Ice have been sub-par on the penalty kill throughout the playoffs, successful on just 13 of 21 short-handed situations (61.9 per cent).

The Warriors, meanwhile, are clicking on the power play and are 22 for 28 on the penalty kill.

“I felt there was no quit and there was still belief that the game was still there for the taking. At the end of the day, we know we’re a good team, we know we’re playing against a very good team and we have to be ready to start on time, we have to be way more disciplined and we have to do a better job with special teams,” Patrick said.

Winnipeg swept the Medicine Hat Tigers in the opening round.

Matthew Savoie (7G, 7A) leads the Ice offensively, while Connor McLennon (5G) and Zack Ostapchuk (4G) have each provided a scoring spark through six outings. Defenceman Ben Zlotny has assisted on 10 Winnipeg goals.

Patrick wants to see a competitive drive from his team for a full 60 minutes.

“What do I want to see (in Game 3)? I don’t want us to have letdowns and I want to see every guy to a man as focused and competitive right off the bat. There are guys on the team who gave everything they had but I just thought we were a little bit casual early in the game and it ended up costing us, then you’re on your heels, then you take a penalty,” he said.

“I expect whoever it is — a guy wearing a letter or not — to play our system and play the game the right way and be as focused and ready to go on time.”

jfreysam@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jfreysam