Pre-Game Notes:
– After losing 6-2 on Thursday, the Moose were looking to contain Milwaukee’s powerplay. The Admirals went 3/5 last night on the PP, and also scored an empty netter; the teams were even (2-all) at even-strength\
– Jets fans continue to await the AHL debut of QMJHL defenceman Luke Green. Signed to an AHL tryout contract (ATO) on Wednesday, Green didn’t play Thursday, and wasn’t in tonight’s lineup
– 25-year-old defenceman Tim Daly made his AHL debut. He has 35 points in 54 games with the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies
– After potting another goal yesterday, Kyle Connor now boasts 22 goals in 45 games. The AHL’s rookie goal leader is Mark Jankowski, with 24, but he’s played an extra 8 games. The only AHL rookie with a better goal-per-game pace is Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Jake Guentzel, who now plays in the NHL alongside Sidney Crosby
– Jack Roslovic is tied for 9th in AHL rookie scoring, while Connor sits 15th
Scoring Summary:
Admirals Goal (1): On the PP, Mike Ribeiro had all the time in the world to set up Trevor Smith, who was equally open right in front; Smith easily deflected the puck past Jamie Phillips.
Admirals Goal (2): Two small bodies – D Tim Daly (5’10) and F Dan DeSalvo (5’7) – got worked over down low, and Justin Florek came around the net, and banged the puck past Phillips.
Admirals Goal (3): A scramble play on the PP, a fluttering puck bounced off the boards behind the net, and Trevor Smith quickly centred the puck for Freddy Gaudreau, who chipped it past Phillips, glove side.
Moose Goal (1): On a powerplay of their own, Kyle Connor walked into the slot and fired a wrister at Mazanec – the puck fell at the feet of Patrice Cormier, and he slid it into the temporarily open net.
Lineup
Connor-Roslovic-DeSalvo
Beauvillier-De Leo-Kosmachuk
Flick-Cormier-Lipon
Kramer-Olsen-Lodge
Kulevich-Stoykewych
Czuczman-Kostalek
Baker-Daly
Phillips
Comrie
Player Review
Jamie Phillips: In his his 5th start of the season, Phillips was decent, though not as good as last night’s perfect 15-save relief appearance. There was no stopping the first goal, and the third goal was pretty fluky, but the second goal might have been averted with a poke check/paddle movement as Florek came around the net. Apart from that, he wasn’t asked to make many big saves.
Chase De Leo: He was quick and dangerous tonight. He had three great chances – a two-on-one where he took over with his speed; a shorthanded breakaway where he got behind the D and took a pass from Roslovic; and a 3-on-2 where he hit the post. With the Moose down 2-0, Pascal Vincent loaded up his top line with Connor-Roslovic-De Leo, and the three worked very well together.
Kyle Connor: While he picked up an assist late, overall, it was an uneventful night for Connor. He didn’t do anything wrong, but he wasn’t his usual offensive catalyst self. That said, with 14 goals in the past 14 games, along with 7 assists and 55 shots, maybe he was due for a quiet night.
Jack Roslovic: He almost had a goal early in the first, with the goalie at his mercy, but the defender just managed to get in front of it. He continues to get major responsibilities on the pk, and develop the defensive side of the game. His offensive side has been a little less dynamic since Connor started heating up, but he’s still without question the second most dangerous skater on the Moose.
Jake Kulevich: In the third game of his AHL career following four years at Colgate University, Kulevich has been fairly impressive. His strong stride starts with a deep knee bend which he seems to maintain at all times. He’s very alert on the ice, and quick to react to the play. The next step in his development will be to anticipate the play, but three games on, and without a reliable veteran D-partner, he’s in survival mode out there, and doing a pretty good job as he adjusts to the faster pace of play.
Next Game Action
The Moose next play Tuesday night against the Oilers’ AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors – current hockey home of last year’s 4th overall pick, Jesse Puljujarvi.
