Manitoba Moose cannot take advantage of early leads and fall 4-3 to the Canucks in Abbotsford

The Moose left Manitoba on Monday for a quick two-game trip to the west coast where they will take on the Canucks in Abbotsford as they try to put more ground between themselves in the 5th and final playoff spot and the two teams (Iowa & Chicago) who trail them.

Lineup news:

Only change was Brad Lambert returned after missing the last Moose game. With his return, Henri Nikkanen dropped back down to the 4th line and Nicholas Jones was out.

Moose lineup:

Malott – Lambert – Chibrikov
Suess – Toninato – AJF
Viel – Reichel – Ford
Golder – Nikkanen – Torgersson

Capobianco – Barteaux
Heinola – Lundmark
Sautner – Bauer

Millic

Notable:

Game 100 in the AHL for Jets 2020 6th rounder Tyrel Bauer.

Things got off to a good start for the visitors as Ville Heinola took a sharp angle shot which gave the Moose an early 1-0 lead. That’s his 7th goal of the season.

Jets prospect Brad Lambert shows off what he can do with a full head of steam.

Just past the midpoint of the opening period things were looking good for Manitoba as Jeff Malott got to the 20 goal mark for the third straight season as he gave the Moose a 2-1 lead on the power play. That’s a new career high for Malott as he gets to the 45 point mark.

After the Malott PP goal the Moose gave up a PP goal of their own which allowed the Canucks to tie the game 2-2.

One minute after giving up the game tying goal the Moose find themselves down for the first time as Winnipegger Jett Woo makes it 3-2 Canucks. Can’t really tell how this one beat Milic.

Ville Heinola missed his check along the wall and then Kyle Capobianco and Dominic Toninato don’t protect the front of the net. 4-2 Canucks.

Manitoba thought they had drawn within one of Abbotsford courtesy of this Dominic Toninato tip late in the middle frame but it was ruled a high-stick by the Moose centre. So instead of 4-3 to end the 2nd the visitors are down 4-2 after 40 minutes.

You’d think the visitors would be the ones to push trailing by two to start the 3rd period but it was all Canucks, who did have the benefit of a power play, to take an 8-1 shot edge. Eventually the Moose did start to create starting with this chance for C.J. Suess.

Things weren’t looking good when Ville Heinola was sent to the sin bin with just over seven minutes left in the 3rd but a huge sequence by Dominic Toninato, who already had a goal disallowed earlier in the game, to win the faceoff on the PK and then go on the attack. A nice pass by AJF and the Moose were within one courtesy of this shorthanded goal.

The Moose pulled Thomas Milic with 2:07 left and try as they might the Canucks smothered them for the remainder of the game to hold on for the 4-3 win.

Multi-point game:

Ville Heinola 1G 1A

Highlights:

Post-game interview:

To follow.

Up next:

The Moose are back in action tomorrow as they’ll have a re-match with these Canucks in B.C. Puck drop is at 9 PM CDT.