Moose force extra time as CJ Suess tied it up in his 300th game in antlers but Wolves win 4-3 in OT

With the Moose mathematically eliminated from the post-season they are playing out the string which is four home games (including the one this afternoon) and two more on the road to conclude the season.

Lineup news:

Jets goalie prospect Thomas Milic got his second straight start for the Moose. Only roster change was Vitelli came in for Liwiski. They did juggle the lines and actually put together the 2022 Jets Draft line (Lambert, Zhilkin and Wagner).

Lines & D pairs:

AJF– Toninato –Shaw
Wagner – Zhilkin – Lambert
Malmquist – Suess– King
Empey-Conley-Vitelli

Lundmark–Coghlan
Phillips – Salomonsson
Anhorn – Bauer

Milic

Notable:

That’s how you get the crowd into the game early. Just 3:47 into the 1st Isaak Phillips with his fourth of the season deposits the pass from the captain Dominic Toninato into the back of the net to make it 1-0. Prospect Elias Salomonsson got his 20th assist of the season.

Just 32 seconds after opening the scoring the Moose add to their lead as Jets prospect Brad Lambert picks up his sixth of the season which was a tap in. Dylan Anhorn called for that puck from Jets prospect Danny Zhilkin and Manitoba and then made a slick pass which led to it being 2-0 for the home team.

Especially in the opening period I thought Brad Lambert was really moving well and showing plenty of chemistry with his teammates leading to a number of solid chances.

During the 1st period the Moose honoured CJ Suess for playing his 300th game in antlers. The 2014 5th rounder of the Jets is the first 2.0 player for Manitoba to hit that game mark with the team.

At the end of the 1st with the Moose up 2-0, Simon Lundmark took a puck to the face which would cause him to miss part of the 2nd period. Assistant coach Eric Dubois after the game said he needed to be patched up and undergo concussion testing.

Manitoba did not have a great middle frame (which is odd since they are the middle province…ha). They were outshot 11-0 and didn’t register their first shot until the 11:42 mark. They were down 3-2 after 40 after giving up two power play goals and one at even strength.

Much like they did in the opening frame they came out the right way in the final one getting plenty of chances beginning with this one from Elias Salomonsson which he fired wide. That was followed up by this slick play by Danny Zhilkin which he followed up with this power move.

Things were looking bleak as the Moose had to kill a rather fulsome 5 on 3 but they did and then captain Dominic Toninato blocked a shot, took the puck down the ice and appropriately CJ Suess scored the game tying goal.

Moose and Wolves will need OT as 60 minutes solved nothing. Manitoba did have a big late penalty kill.

Fabian Wagner got a really good chance in extra time to end it but Tokarski made a heck of a save.

But penalty trouble followed them into extra time where they gave up this goal to lose the game 4-3 in OT.

Multi-point game:

Dominic Toninato 2A

Highlights:

Player & Coach media:

After the game we spoke with Jets prospect Danny Zhilkin, C.J. Suess (playing in his 300th game in antlers) and Moose assistant coach Eric Dubois.

Up next:

The Moose and Wolves have a re-match tomorrow afternoon. Puck drop at 2 PM CDT.