Moose sweep weekend series with 5-4 win over Gulls

After getting up 2-0 and 4-1, the Moose let the Gulls back into the game, and entered the third period with just  a 4-3 lead. The Gulls were able to tie the game up on a fluky shot from the point with about 8 minutes remaining, but the Moose came back just over a minute later and took back the lead.

Scoring Summary

Manitoba Goal (1): A Julian Melchiori point shot found its way through a number of bodies and past Dustin Tokarski for the game’s first goal.

Manitoba Goal (2): The puck squirted right to Jan Kostalek in the high slot, and he fired a slapper past over Tokarski’s right shoulder to put the Moose up by two.

San Diego Goal (1): Pavelec kicked out a point shot which came right to a wide open Scott Sabourin, who potted to get the Gulls within one.

Manitoba Goal (3): Off a nice forecheck by Nic Petan, Cormier got the puck in the slot and fired it past Tokarski, high blocker to put the Moose up 3-1.

Manitoba Goal (4): While shorthanded, Patrice Cormier got a breakaway and went backhand-forehand on Tokarski, sliding the puck past the right pad to put the Moose up by three.

San Diego Goal (2): After a Jan Kostalek pinch went awry, Nick Sorensen blew past Jake Baker, came in alone and beat Pavelec glove side.

San Diego Goal (3): With traffic in front, Nick Tarnasky cut into the slot and threw a shot at the net which beat Pavelec blocker side.

San Diego Goal (4): An Andrew Welinski point shot deflected off a Moose stick and fluttered towards the goal; Pavelec didn’t pick up the puck, and it suddenly appeared at the net, ticked the cross bar and fell in.

Manitoba Goal (5): A Peter Stoykewych point shot appeared to be deflected in front by either Nic Petan or J.C Lipon. Regardless, it put the Moose back in the lead.  Post-game it was confirmed that Nic Petan tipped it home.

Official Game Sheet

Post-Game Audio

Peter Stoykewych

Scott Glennie

Coach Vincent

Player Assessment:

GOALTENDER

Ondrej Pavelec: He stopped the first 13 shots of the game before an unfortunate rebound led to the Gulls’ first goal. He didn’t look great when he got beaten by Sorensen on the breakaway – not to say it was his fault, but it wasn’t a particularly great move or shot that beat him. The third goal was similar – hard to blame him, but at the same time, if Pavelec had been able to battle through traffic to find that puck, he saves the shot. Ditto for the fourth goal. He did make a few very good saves late to preserve the win for the home team.

FORWARDS

Jack Roslovic: Created a nice two-on-one, picking up the puck, getting up to top speed in no time, and feeding Peluso, cross-crease (he wasn’t able to cash). He also took a long shift, which led to a too-many-men penalty when he appeared to be changing but instead played the puck. Call them growing pains. Aside from his skillset – which is the best of any Moose forward – the most impressive thing about Roslovic is how well he “processes” the game. He hasn’t had any trouble adjusting to the pace of play; for him, it’s all about gaining more speed and strength in order to get that extra step of quickness and a little more push out of the corners.

Chase De Leo: He had the puck a lot tonight, especially in the third period. Always puts forth a consistent effort, and has an impressive ability to win puck battles despite being only 5’8. He double-shifted in the third period when Patrice Cormier went down with injury.

Patrice Cormier: Scored two nice goals tonight – a nice wrist-shot from the slot his first of the year, and a slick breakaway deke for his second.

Andrew Copp: He made a great play while shorthanded, stripping the puck off Jacob Larsson, and breaking in on net before being pulled down and drawing a penalty. He also made a new play defensively, anticipating a Gull’s pass behind the Moose net and picking it off. Overall, he was more noticeable tonight, but he’s struggling to create much offensively.

Nic Petan: Trying to do a bit too much at times – for example, a toe-drag that nearly worked but caused a turnover, and a forced pass through the middle of  the offensive zone which led  to another turnover. That said, he had a nice forecheck which created the third goal of the game (the Cormier shot from the slot), and at least screened the goaltender on the winning goal (if he didn’t tip it himself). (Update:  He tipped the game winner home).

Brendan Lemieux: Quiet on the scoreboard, but very strong in puck battles, continually making good decisions, and not hurting his team in his own end. 

J.C Lipon: A good two-way game tonight, he was good on the pk, winning puck batttles and skating well with the puck in open ice. He created some havoc on the game winner, possibly getting a stick on it. He doesn’t have high-end skill, but he’s a very reliable two-way forward at this level. 

Scott Kosmachuk: A very quiet night for Kosmachuk, who didn’t create any offence, or even have the puck on his stuck much.

Quinton Howden: Howden had a few chances around the net, particularly in the third period. A decent game from him.

Anthony Peluso: Wasn’t noticeable tonight for better or for worse, apart from a two-on-one he failed to convert off a nice pass from Roslovic.

Scott Glennie: Playing his first game of the season – in fact, his first game in almost a year and a half (he sat out 2015-2016), Glennie displayed fairly soft hands, but seemed a bit out of sync or behind the play. 

Darren Kramer: Playing his first game of the season, Kramer didn’t play a lot – 

Scratches: Brandon Denham (injured)

DEFENCEMEN

Peter Stoykewych: The best Moose d-man again tonight, Stoykewych brings a steady, reliable game. Furthermore, he was credited with the game-winner – a smart point shot which found its way past a stick-less Dustin Tokarski.

Jan Kostalek: Continuing his strong play this year, Kostalek managed his first of the season when a puck came to him high slot, and he beat the goalie clean with a slapper. Made a poor pinch which created the Gulls’ second goal, but otherwise was very good tonight. 

Julian Melchiori: One day after this writer claimed Melchiori didn’t have “a dangerous shot”, #44 potted the Moose’s first goal of the game on a low slap shot from the point (although the puck did go through a number of legs and sticks). One concerning play early in the game – a two-on-two for he and Stoykewych – Melchiori chases the puck carrier as he crosses over to Stoykewych’s side, rather than staying in his lane (the right half of the ice). In effect, he left a third attacker wide open for a back-door play, but the Gulls weren’t able to take advantage. Overall, he was pretty good tonight.

Kevin Czuczman: He man’s the first PP unit, and has done in decent job in Brenden Kichton’s absence. He has been fairly reliable for the Moose so far, and was fine again tonight.

Nelson Nogier: The 6th defenceman on this club, Nogier is getting decent minutes on the PK, while being sheltered a bit at even-strength. He battles hard, but needs to improve in many aspects of the game.

Jake Baker: He took two penalties on the night, and looked a bit slow on the Sorensen goal, getting burned wide.

Scratches: Brenden Kichton (injured), Brian Strait, Jordan Hill

Lines

Lemieux-De Leo-Kosmachuk
Petan-Copp-Lipon
Howden-Roslovic-Peluso
Kramer-Cormier-Glennie

Stoykewych-Melchiori
Baker-Kostalek
Czuczman-Nogier

Pavelec

Comrie