Seems appropriate that with 17 games left in the Moose season and 18 games left in the Wolves season (coming into tonight’s action) these two teams have a two-game set this weekend in Chicago that can really shape the battle for the fifth and final playoff spot in the Central. Manitoba came into this contest three points up although they’ve played one more game than their rival.
Pre-game news:
The Jets announced that they had swung a minor league trade sending Wyatt Bongiovanni to the Senators organization for future considerations.
Lineup news:
No changes for the Moose as they use the same lineup that helped them roll to a 6-0 win over the Admirals.
Moose lineup:
Malott – Lambert – AJF
Suess – Toninato – Chibrikov
Viel – Reichel – Ford
Torgersson – Nikkanen – Jones
Capobianco – Barteaux
Heinola – Lundmark
Sautner – Kuzmin
Milic
Delia
Notable:
Scoreless first period although Kyle Capobianco rang one off the crossbar during a power play for Manitoba.
Moose gave up a shorthanded goal. Then minutes later the Moose scored a shorthanded goal Ville Heinola rips this one home to tie the game. That’s his sixth of the year.
Needing a goal to tie the Moose got one courtesy of Nicholas Jones after Henri Nikkanen rang a shot off the post. Jones tied the game. Speaking of Nikkanan, what a run for Jets 2019 4th rounder. He went the first 35 games of the season without a point for MB. He’s now got seven points (3G 4A) in his last six games.
Nothing doing in OT although the Moose had some chances including this one by Brad Lambert as time ticked off the clock.
In the fifth round of the shootout Jeff Malott got the game-winner which allowed play-by-play voice Daniel Fink to yell “Chalk up the win” as the Moose comeback to defeat the Wolves 3-2 in a shootout.
With the point gained on Chicago, Manitoba now has a four point cushion on the fifth and final playoff spot as they win their seventh game of their last eight.
Moose improve to 4-1-0 on this six-game road trip.
Multi-point game:
Nicholas Jones 1G 1A
Henri Nikkanen 2A
Highlights:
Up next:
The Moose will conclude their sixth and final game of this road trip tomorrow night in Chicago in a big re-match with the Wolves. Puck drop is at 7 PM CDT.
