Manitoba Moose win streak comes to an end as Grand Rapids Griffins take it 4-1

The Moose kicked off this homestand with a big 5-1 win over the Griffins yesterday morning in front of 1000s of kids at the school day game. It was a big win as it incresed their lead over the Wolves for the final playoff spot in the Central and also put them within striking distance of the Texas Stars who are in the fourth spot.

Lineup news:

Only change to the lineup was swapping Daniel Torgersson out for Carson Golder. Goalie Thomas Milic would get the start which was his seventh game of the last eight contests for Manitoba. He had won seven straight games coming into tonight.

Moose lineup:

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

Capobianco – Barteaux
Heinola – Lundmark
Sautner – Bauer

Milic
Delia

Notable:

Moose got out of the gate well jumping out to a 5-1 shot edge which included an early power play opportunity but Griffins netminder Sebastian Cossa was up to the task which was a theme that would continue throughout the night.

Good pick play prevented Kristian Reichel from getting to a puck in the Griffins zone, followed by a nice stretch pass which springs Zach Aston-Reese who beats Thomas Milic on the second shot of the game for the Griffins to give them a 1-0 lead.

Manitoba certainly didn’t lack for power play opportunities in the 1st period as they had the first three of the game including this one which nearly cost Jets prospect Nikita Chibrikov his leg. Not surprisingly the tough winger was out there for the latter part of the power play on the penalty he drew.

Both goalies had to be sharp in the opening period including a 5 on 3 kill for the Moose for 1:10 but he was up to the task.

After failing to capitalize on their fourth power play early in the 2nd period the Moose learned the peril of not clearing the puck out of your zone and found themselves down 2-0.

At about the midpoint of the middle frame Parker Ford took a penalty and it felt like the point of the hockey game which could turn the game either way. A power play goal would likely salt it away but a kill may give the home team some energy. They say your goalie needs to be the best penalty killer and with this stop Milic sure proved that to be true.

About a minute later Milic made this leaping stop to maintain the deficit at two goals.

And all those saves by Thomas Milic proved valuable as the Moose get within one during an extended delayed penalty opportunity. Brad Lambert curled and fired a shot that hits Jeff Malott in front and brings the Moose within one. That was Malott’s 19th goal of the season.

Jets prospect Brad Lambert up to 47 points (19G 28A) in 53 games which puts him 6th on All-Time Moose rookie points list.

Early in the 3rd the Moose thought they had tied the game when Jeffrey Viel banged home a loose puck but ref said no dice.

That was as close as they would come as the Griffins regained the two goal advantage when the Moose failed to clear the puck out of their zone.

Brad Lambert will have many assists in his career that will make the highlight reels. This was not one of them as he gives up the puck with the Moose net empty and the home team found themselves down 4-1.

Moose lose their first game in regulation in five as their four-game win streak ended with the Griffins earning the two-game series split with a 4-1 win.

The good news for the Moose is the Wolves had a 3-2 lead over the IceHogs and blew it and then lost in OT so Chicago was only able to gain one point on Manitoba for the fifth and final playoff spot in the Central. The Wolves also have a game in hand on the Moose.

Multi-point game:

None.

Highlights:

Post-game interview:

Up next:

The Moose will be off tomorrow and then return to the ice on Friday for practice as they get set for a pair of matinees this weekend against the Abbotsford Canucks.