Top spot in the East Division is on the line this weekend as the Moose Jaw Warriors and Swift Current Broncos square off in a two-game set to kick off December.

The Warriors enter the weekend leading the Broncos by three points for first place in the East Division. The two teams will meet on Friday night at Mosaic Place and then on Saturday at the Credit Union Iplex.

“We’re excited, it’s going to be a big weekend, it’s going to be fun, these are two big games for both teams, so we’re really looking forward to it,” said Warriors captain Brett Howden.

In their previous two meetings this season, the road team has came out victorious with the Broncos winning 4-3 at Mosaic Place in October and the Warriors skating to a 7-4 win in Swift Current last month.

Five of the league’s top-seven point producers this season will be in action during the home-and-home series.

Warriors’ leading scorer Brayden Burke is fourth in the league in scoring with 48 points, while Jayden Halbgewachs sits second in the league in goals with 25 goals and seventh with 45 points.

Swift Current holds down the top three spots in the scoring race with their line of Aleksi Heponiemi, Tyler Steenbergen and Glenn Gawdin combing for 69 goals and 165 points through 25 games this season.

Howden said playing that line hard and tight will be key to their success this weekend.

“Obviously that top line has been very dominant, they have been the whole year, so we’ve got to key in on those guys and be aware when they’re on the ice,” said the 19-year-old forward.

The Warriors’ defence will be tasked with containing the trio.  Sosunov said limiting their time and space is important.

“We need to play hard and not all them to finish on their chances,” he said.  “Overall, we need to fore check hard, back check hard, work in the (defensive zone) hard and create some offensive moments.”

The Broncos made a blockbuster trade last week to help add some more scoring past their top line with the addition of 20-year-old forward Matteo Gennaro and 19-year-old forward Beck Malenstyn. Gennaro is expected to make his Broncos’ debut on Friday.

Both teams will have to content with two of the league’s top goaltenders.

Moose Jaw’s Brody Willms comes in with a 2.94 goals against average, which is fifth-best in the league, and a 0.906 save percentage, which is eighth. Logan Flodell mans the Broncos’ crease and has the third-best goals against average at 2.88 and the fourth-best save percentage at 0.914. Both goalies are tied for second in the league with 16 wins a piece.

The Warriors are coming in off a 7-4 win over the Victoria Royals on Tuesday, while the Broncos scored a 4-3 overtime win against the Royals on Wednesday.

Sosunov said the team is feeling good going into this weekend’s two big games, “We have done great work during the week and we come in under good conditions, the whole team is ready,” he said.

Friday night’s game is the annual Teddy Bear Toss Game at Mosaic Place. Fans are asked to bring a stuffed animal, gloves, toques and/or scarves and throw them on the ice when the Warriors score their first goal of the game.

Puck drops at 7 p.m. and the Pre-Game Show is on the air at 6:40 p.m. on Country 100.