It was ugly for the Moose Jaw Warriors on Friday night as they opened their weekend home-and-home against the Regina Pats with a 2-1 loss at the Brandt Centre.

Kaeden Taphorn had the lone goal for Moose Jaw, while Regina's game-winning goal in the second period was clouded in controversy as Pats defenceman Steven Zonneveld appeared to be offside on the play.

Neither team came flying out of the gates and Chances were few and far between in the first period. Both teams were able to make some key defensive plays to keep the game scoreless.

On the power play four minutes into the second period, the Warriors picked up the game's first goal when Yegor Buyalski and Kaeden Taphorn came across the Pats line and finished off a give-and-go with Taphorn's third goal of the year.

Regina tied the game at 1-1 with just over six minutes left in the period when the Warriors mishandled the puck behind their net and Riley Krane jumped on a loose puck to put it over the goal line.

Then, with under two minutes left in the frame, the Pats took a 2-1 lead when Zonneveld came out of the penalty box, took a lead pass and fired a shot past the glove of goalie Adam Evanoff.

In the third period, the Warriors outshot the Pats, 8-4, but they weren't able to push in an equalizer and suffered the one-goal loss.

The Warriors outshot the Pats, 27-18. They were 1-for-4 on the power play and 4-for-4 on the penalty kill.

These two long-time rivals will wrap up their pre-Christmas schedules on Saturday at Mosaic Place.  The Pre-Game Show is on the air at 6:40 p.m. on Country 100.

Saturday's game is the Warriors annual Teddy Bear and Toque Toss.  Fans are encouraged to bring a new plush toy, toque, or gloves, and when the Warriors score their first goal they can throw them on the ice where volunteers will collect them for the Moose Jaw Salvation Army.