Down 0-2 coming back to Winnipeg was a daunting place to be but the Moose have six three game winning streaks this season (including one against Milwaukee in November) so it isn’t inconceivable that they could comeback in this series. But as cliche as it is you can only take it one game at a time which brings us to game three, the first home playoff game for the Moose in four years.
Lineup news:
Two changes to the lineup ahead of the game were Kristian Vesalainen due to injury and Henri Nikkanen and in came Bobby Lynch and Luke Johnson. Prospect Daniel Torgersson did take warm up but ultimately he wasn’t used in the game.
Moose lineup:
Malott-Suess-Poganski
Barron-Gustafsson-Eyssimont
Polei-Maier-Jones
Lynch-Hutchinson-Johnson
Samberg-Kovacevic
Chisholm-Gawanke
Heinola-Oligny
Berdin
Holm
Noteworthy:
First strike would go to one of the reinforcements the Admirals got from Nashville being eliminated being Winnipegger Cody Glass who got the visitors on the board just 21 seconds into the game.
Late in the opening period Ville Heinola had his pocket picked which resulted in another Milwaukee goal to give the visitors a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.
The 2nd could have started poorly as Manitoba had to kill a penalty early but they didn’t allow a shot against and eventually would get things rolling with a Morgan Barron power play goal.
Shortly after a Moose power play had expired Jeff Malott, one of the guys I said would have to be a difference maker on my Kenny & Renny appearance pre-game, put home this shot to tie the game 2-2.
You could sense that Manitoba could smell the blood in the water as they were outshooting Milwaukee 13-4 at one point in the period when Leon Gawanke scored on the power play to give the Moose a 3-2 lead heading into the 2nd intermission.
Coming into the 3rd period the key to the game for the Moose was going to be maintaining their attack mentality and not sitting back and that’s just what they did. And it was no surprise that it was the Nicholas Jones, Cole Maier and Evan Polei line to get it done courtesy of a Jones shot with the other two screening in front making it 4-2 for the home side.
Well deserved goal for Luke Johnson who suffered two brutal leg injuries this season and worked his way back into the lineup off a nice pass by Bobby Lynch which made it 5-2 for Manitoba.
And what would a game be without Mikhail Berdin going for an empty netter.
Players media interview:
Coach media availability:
Game Highlights:
Up Next:
The Moose will live to see another day and will practice tomorrow as they prepare for game 4 on Friday night.
