With a win the Moose could have jumped from 6th to 3rd in the Central although it wasn’t going to be an easy task taking on the division leading Stars who were 11 points up on Manitoba coming into the game. Texas has the top two scorers in AHL right now in Mavrik Bourque (2020 1st) and rookie Logan Stankoven (2021 2nd).
Lineup news:
Just one lineup change for the Moose as Jeffrey Viel returned after serving his one game suspension. No Chaz Lucius for Manitoba this evening
Moose lineup:
Malott – Lambert – Ford
Bongiovanni – Zhilkin – Chibrikov
Viel – Reichel – Jones
Torgersson – Nikkanen – Suess
Capobianco – Barteaux
Sautner – Lundmark
Kuzmin – Bauer
Delia
Salminen
Notable:
It was all Texas to start the game as they held a 4-0 shot edge and would take a 1-0 lead off a nice chip play in the neutral zone which caught the Moose napping.
The Moose answered right back as Jeff Malott got his eighth goal of the season after some nice work by Kyle Capobianco. It was a significant goal as it moves Jeff Malott into the top 10 for goals scored by a player for Manitoba.
Manitoba looked to gain some momentum and take the lead as the top line got a nice chance here with Lambert finding Ford who finds Malott.
Stars took a 2-1 lead as this play goes awry for the Moose in the neutral zone and the visitors make the home team pay.
And with 3.9 seconds left in the 1st the Stars took a 3-1 lead as Fredrik Karlstrom gets his second of the game.
Sound of a blown tire is music to Brad Lambert’s ears.
Ashton Sautner brought the Moose within one as the Dman does a wraparound. That was his fourth goal of the season (matching his career high set in 2015-16).
Every time Manitoba looks like they are back in the game they shoot themselves in the foot. (Which makes it hard to skate) like on this play which saw Texas regain the two goal edge.
Three big stops by Collin Delia (here, here and here).
With the loss the Moose record in the first game of a two-game set is now 2-10 and they are 9-2 in the second game which I guess bodes well for Sunday.
Health news:
Moose head coach Mark Morrison said Chaz Lucius picked up an illness over the holiday break. He’s isolated from the club so it doesn’t spread but there is your reason he didn’t play tonight. Doesn’t sound like he plays on Sunday.
Multi-point game:
None.
Player/Coach media availability:
Jeff Malott from the start to 1:24
Simon Lundmark from 1:25 to 2:18
Coach Mark Morrison from 2:19 to the end.
Highlights:
Up next:
The Moose are scheduled to practice tomorrow as they get set for their re-match with the Stars on Sunday afternoon.
