Special teams the difference as league-leading Griffins edge Moose 2-1

The Moose are coming off an impressive sweep of the Rocket who are the first-place team in the North Division but tonight they faced an even more difficult opponent in the first in the AHL Griffins.

Manitoba came into the game tied with Chicago for the second most wins (19) in the Central but they both trail Grand Rapids who have 31.

Lineup news:

With Danny Zhilkin and Isaak Phillips back in the fold after being loaned by the Jets this morning it meant Jacob Julien and Dawson Barteaux would come out of the lineup.

Moose lineup:

Lambert – Ford – Di Giuseppe
Shaw – Gustafsson- Duehr
JAD– Yager – Fagemo
Barlow – Zhilkin – Chibrikov

Heinola – Anhorn
Phillips– Clague
Sautner – Bauer

Milic

Notable:

We see the benefit to a team that played midweek vs one that hadn’t played since last weekend as Jets goalie prospect Thomas Milic was tested early and often with the Griffins getting out to a 7-1 shot edge although he made some big saves (which was a them in this hockey game).

One things about this game was the Moose certainly had plenty of chances. In the opening period we saw a sneaky play by Kale Clague who tipped this puck ahead to himself and set up a pair of Moose for a glorious chance. But both Parker Ford and Brad Lambert with a swing and a miss.

Another glorious chance for the Moose in the opening period but Jets prospect Danny Zhilkin doesn’t get enough of it to bury it on the power play.

Little end-to-end action at the end of the 1st with both the Moose and Griffins getting grade A chances.

Early in the middle frame Milic was called on to make a big stop and did just that.

A pair of Jets prospects in on this play as a nice neutral zone pass by Colby Barlow sets up Danny Zhilkin, who uses his speed to create this opportunity.

Early in the middle frame the Griffins opened the scoring on the power play and then as time wound down in the 2nd it was the captain Mason Shaw who buried his 11th of the season to tie the game.

The Griffins started the final frame on the power play and get a great chance but Moose goalie Thomas Milic makes his 21st save on shot 22 to keep the game tied.

Another sequence of chances as Moose had two cracks to take the lead but Jets prospect Brayden Yager could not bury the breakaway and then Samuel Fagemo puts his chance wide.

Another massive stop by Milic at the midpoint of the 3rd.

Watching this play unfold on the Moose PP I was thinking to myself: “self why are they playing this so casually?”. Seconds later we had an answer as the Griffins took a 2-1 lead shorthanded. 2 things:

Moose PP is not good (31st in AHL)
They have given up 3rd most shortys

That shorthanded goal in the 3rd was costly as the Moose lose 2-1 to the AHL leading Griffins.

Multi-point game:

None.

Highlights:

Player media:

Coach media:

Up next:

The Moose set to practice tomorrow as they get ready for the re-match with the Griffins on Sunday afternoon.