Illegal Curve Hockey

Moose earn a split courtesy of a solid 4-1 win over Wild as special teams come through

Photo Credit: Jonathan Kozub (Manitoba Moose)

The Moose got their six-game homestand off on the wrong skate losing on Saturday afternoon to the Wild by a final score of 5-2. We learned after the game that 2022 1st rounder Brad Lambert wasn’t in the lineup as he was out with a cold. That continued today as he was not in the lineup. Henri Nikkanen and Kristian Reichel both returned to the lineup as did Dean Stewart.

Moose lineup:

Malott-Harkins-Eyssimont
Polei-Maier-Jones
Torgersson-Nikkaneen-Reichel
Bongiovanni-Lucius-Stenlund

Heinola Lundmark
Chisholm Gawanke
Sautner Stewart

Holm
Salminen

Notable:

The Moose got off to a good start which was somewhat derailed as they inadvertently scored an own goal off a faceoff which was swept past Manitoba goalie Arvid Holm.

That deficit would last for most of the 1st until alternate captain Cole Maier scored his first of the season off a top corner snipe.

After the team killed off a double minor to Cole Maier to start the 2nd period they got a power play marker of their own courtesy of a Leon Gawanke shot from the point which was nicely screened by Kevin Stenlund.

Just 15 seconds later the Lunch Pail Line did their thing which resulted in another Cole Maier goal to open up a two-goal lead.

Late in the middle frame with defenceman Declan Chisholm being dummied hard, and with the refs watching on, Mikey Eyssimont went to break up the “fight” and got hit with a third-man in misconduct which cost him the remainder of the game.

After he took a shot off the hand I didn’t think Kevin Stenlund would be back for the 3rd period but he was on the ice to start the final frame.

Quite the sound from this Wyatt Bongiovanni power play goal to make it 4-1. Lots of confidence from the first year pro.

Special teams were solid for the Moose as they scored twice on the power play (on four chances) but also killed all five penalties they took.

Manitoba improves to 5-1-1 on the season and sit 1st in the Central.

Player media availability:

Coach media availability:

Game Highlights:

To follow.

Up Next:

The Moose are off tomorrow. They will resume practice on Tuesday as they begin to prepare for next weekend’s series with the Stars.

David Minuk

Working hard on a daily basis to provide the latest Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose news for our readers and listeners. I also appear on the Illegal Curve Hockey Show every Saturday on our YouTube channel as well as the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show after every single Jets game. And I occasionally jump in the play-by-play booth at Canada Life to provide colour analysis during Manitoba Moose games.