The Moose returned home this week after finishing a 6 game California road trip. It was a very successful trip for the Moose as they posted a 4-2-0 record touring through Bakersfield, Stockton and San Jose.

Here is your look at the past week’s worth of Moose action…

The Moose began a two game series against the San Jose Barracuda (top affiliate of the San Jose Sharks).  The Moose got off to a slow start, but they would open the scoring midway through the first period on a 5 on 3.  Jack Roslovic would score his seventh goal of the season, extending his point streak to six games.  That goal would open the floodgates, as the Moose would extend the lead late in the first, scoring twice more in the space of 80 seconds.  Mike Sgarbossa and JC Lipon scored the goals to put the Moose ahead 3-0 after one period, even while being outshot 13-9.  In the second period, Roslovic would score his second of the game and eighth of the season, and then Jets third round pick Jansen Harkins would score his second goal of the season, and first in nine games, which put the Moose up 5-0 after 2 periods.  In the third, San Jose would get a pair of goals back, but the Moose would cruise to a 5-2 victory.  Eric Comrie made 36 saves to pick up the victory, his fifth of the season and third of the road trip.

Manitoba concluded their six game California road trip with the second game of the series against San Jose.  After a scoreless first period, the Moose gave up the opening goal of the game four minutes into the second period.  After being unable to capitalize on three powerplay chances in the second period, including 1:20 of 5-on-3 time, it looked that San Jose was going to take over the game with a powerplay opportunity late in the middle frame. However, 11 seconds into the San Jose powerplay, Patrice Cormier would score shorthanded to tie the game at 1.

The Moose were unable to keep the momentum gained from the short-handed goal, giving up a goal two minutes into the third period to give San Jose the lead.  When former Team Canada junior forward Rourke Chartier put San Jose ahead by two just over five minutes into the third, the Barracuda was able to lock the game down, and they would add an empty netter to put away a 4-1 win.  Eric Comrie got the start on back to back days, and had a rough day, making 21 saves on 24 shots in the game.

he Moose returned home to face the Chicago Wolves, the new top affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights. Michael Hutchinson made the start after Eric Comrie had made the last three starts.  The game did not get off to a good start, as the Wolves opened the scoring just over a minute in through Stefan Matteau’s first of two goals on the night.  After being outshot throughout the first period, Winnipeg native Peter Stoykewych would get the Moose on the board, banging a rebound past Wolves goalie Kasimir Kaskisuo to tie the game late in the first.

Brendan Lemieux returned to the Moose early in the week and paid immediate dividends by scoring his fourth of the season, a wrist shot from the top of the faceoff circle to give the Moose a 2-1 lead just under three minutes into the second.  Similar to the game on Sunday against San Jose, the Moose had powerplay opportunities throughout the second period, and could not extend the lead.  The Wolves would make the Moose pay late in the second period, with Stefan Matteau scoring his second of the game and season to tie the game.

Early in the third, the Moose would capitalize on their fifth powerplay chance of the game.  Jets sixth round pick Mason Appleton would deflect a point shot from Cam Schilling on the powerplay to give the Moose the lead.  The Moose withstood a barrage of shots from Chicago throughout the third, being outshot 44-31 for the game, but Hutchinson was excellent, making 42 saves to lead the Moose to a 3-2 win to start the homestand.

2013 3^rd round pick JC Lipon had points in all 3 games this week, scoring 1 goal and adding 2 assists for 3 points, while having a +2 rating.  Lipon now has 3 goals and 5 assists in 16 games, while leading the Moose in penalty minutes with 18 PIM.

As of November 16^th, 2017

The Moose continue their four-game homestand with games Friday at 7:00 PM against Chicago, and then have their first meetings with the Laval Rocket (top affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens) Sunday at 2:00 PM and Tuesday at 7:00 PM.  All three games can be heard on moosehockey.com, while the Friday and Tuesday games can also be heard on TSN 1290.