The Vancouver Warriors keep finding ways to win games. Whether their down early or it’s a close game or a high scoring game. It doesn’t matter, they are finding ways to keep stacking wins. The production isn’t coming from a few players either. It’s a full team effort each night. After dropping two one-goal games on the road to Ottawa and Philadelphia, Vancouver returned home for a rematch with the Ottawa Black Bears. The Warriors couldn’t afford to drop three games in a row. Especially losing to the same team for a second time within a week.
So how did the Warriors respond? By only surrendering four goals a franchise best, including only one at even strength. A true testament to the resiliency that head coach and general manager Curt Malawsky always preaches. Post-game Malawsky spoke on how last road trip wasn’t up to the standard the Warriors needed to play.
“We were pretty pissed off. You know, I had a good chat with the leadership group last night, and we talked about how it was a good bonding weekend, but at the end of the day, it was very disappointing to have two one-goal losses, and that’s not acceptable. That was the message even though we played in two tough games, we didn’t win. That’s something I’ve seen in Vancouver over the years, the culture of being close but that’s not good enough. We’re close, but that’s ok it’s not ok, and you know, it’s on the leadership. They really stood up and sent that message today: we didn’t get what we came for last week, and we need to get what we’re here for this weekend”.
Ottaa because we took the W!😤 pic.twitter.com/E8RFmG6JFd
— Vancouver Warriors (@VanWarriors) January 25, 2025
Losing three consecutive games is something no team wants to do. Goaltender Aden Walsh talked about how important it was to get this win. Especially at home. “As much fun as we had as a group it was definitely disappointing that we didn’t get the outcome that we wanted. So we knew we had to buckle down and goes on at home”.
Adam Charalambides was dominating from the moment the game started. By creating scoring chances with multiple behind the back passes and finished the game with a hattrick and three assets. Post-game Charalambides touched on how important it was to get the win after the two losses on the road. “We weren’t satisfied with that road trip. Two disappointing one goal losses and we understood the magnitude of other going three and four and now we’re sitting hereat four and three. So we played it like a playoff game and I like the way we played”. He also added that he feels are the Warriors are taking steps forward as a team. “Each week we’re trying to get better we’re doing the film win or lose. (We) come back to the drawing board back to the basics and (look at) what can we prove on what are we doing well let’s keep rolling with over doing well.
In each of their four wins the Warriors have had different players step up. Even though they only have 71 goals for. Which is third lowest in the NLL, they have only allowed 64 goals. Which is the second best in the league. They aren’t winning with star power; they are winning as a team. Which a recipe for success in the NLL. Especially for a team with playoff and championship aspirations.