Manitoba Moose complete comeback defeating Wranglers in OT to earn first win

The Moose were looking to build off a strong first period on Friday which saw them holding a 2-0 lead over the Wranglers with a 13-5 shot edge but they couldn’t sustain it and ultimately they fell 4-2.

Lineup news:

The team practiced on Saturday and while we weren’t able to be there as it coincided with the Illegal Curve Hockey Show it is clear that the coaching staff wanted to make some tweaks to the lineup and the lines themselves. Artemi Kniazev would be making his Manitoba debut as he replaced Dean Stewart, goalie Collin Delia got his first start in net as a Moose and Henri Nikkanen made his season debut in place of Daniel Torgersson.

Moose lineup:

Toninato-Lambert-Ford
AJF – Zhilkin – Chibrikov
Suess – Lucius – Malott
Viel – Nikkanen – Reichel

Capobianco – Lundmark
Oligny – Bauer
Sautner – Kniazev

Delia
Salminen

Notable:

Jets first rounder Brad Lambert found some time and space and uses his speed to create an opportunity which was nicely tipped by Dominic Toninato.

It wasn’t a particularly crisp opening 20 minutes of hockey for either team with the 1st period ended 0-0. Lots of chaos out on the ice.

Brad Lambert had a chance to tie the game but he waited a fraction too long which allowed Oscar Dansk to get into position and make the stop.

Not much that was noteworthy in the middle frame for Manitoba aside from this sequence as they tried to get within one.

Heading into the 3rd period the Moose would get 1:26 of power play time after Kristian Reichel got interfered with at the end of the 2nd and they took advantage of it with Jets prospect Chaz Lucius (2021 1st) scoring his first goal of the season.

A few moments later Brad Lambert showed off his ability to Finnishhhh with this beauty which tied the game at 2-2.

The game tying pass was courtesy of Artemi Kniazev who picked up his first point in a Moose jersey in his first game for Manitoba.

Some Minnesota Nice as Chaz Lucius found himself some soft ice and almost gave the Moose the lead late in the 3rd period off a nice pass by C.J. Suess.

This one is needed OT as the Moose fought back in the 3rd down by two goals to tie it and earned themselves at least one point. Kids were alright as Lambert, Lucius and Chibrikov all stood out.

Jets prospect Nikita Chibrikov (2021 2nd) had a glorious chance to end for the Moose it in OT.

With 2:23 left in extra time Brad Lambert drew a power play and while it probably was not how they would have drawn it up I’m sure they were happy to get the man advantage.

It appeared that Lambert would be the OT hero with 22 seconds left in the power play (:28 in the game) as he took what felt like his 10th shot of the shift but it turns out that Dominic Toninato, who was parked in front of the Wranglers net, got a piece of it and would be credited with the OT game-winning goal.

After the game we joked with Lambert that he took 17 shots on net during the one shift in OT. He thought it was six or seven…turns out it was five including the last one which led to the GWG.

Manitoba earns themselves a split with Calgary and are now 1-1-0-0 on the season.

Player/coach media availability:

Interview with Brad Lambert runs from the start to 1:27
Interview with Tyrel Bauer runs from 1:27 to 3:37
Interview with assistant coach Nolan Baumgartner runs from 3:37 until the end.

Highlights:

Up next:

The Moose will be off tomorrow and likely back on the ice on Tuesday as they prepare to face the Wild next weekend.