Moose Moment: Ring in the New Year

The Moose headed into 2018 with a pair of home games against the San Jose Barracuda, the top affiliate of the San Jose Sharks.  The Moose were looking to extend their 16-game point streak into the New Year against the last team to beat them in regulation.  Read on for a recap of the weekend, and a look forward to 2018.

On Saturday, the Moose looked to extend their point streak to 17 games.  Things did not start well though, as the Barracuda scored just over a minute into the game, with Filip Sandberg scoring his 6^th of the season to give San Jose a 1-0 lead.  The Moose would have a couple of powerplay opportunities late in the 1^st, but could not capitalize, and trailed 1-0 after 1.

In the 2^nd period, the Moose got off to a much better start, and would tie the game just before the 8 minute mark.  JC Lipon took a wrist shot from the faceoff circle, and Mike Sgarbossa would put the rebound past Barracuda goalie Troy Grosenick for his 11^th goal of the season, tying the game at 1.  However, the lead would only last 23 seconds, as the Barracuda would come back down the ice, and Brandon Bollig scored his 7^th of the season to regain the lead for the Barracuda, a 2-1 lead that they would hold after 2 periods.

In the 3^rd period, the Moose powerplay would come to life to tie the game.  Sami Niku would take a pass from Nic Petan on the half wall, walk into the faceoff circle, and snap a shot past Grosenick for his 5^th of the season to tie the game at 2.  The Moose kept pushing through the 3^rd period, looking to extend their point streak, but the Barracuda would take the lead back with just under 6 minutes to go.  Michael Hutchinson would leak a rebound off an innocent looking wrist shot, and Manual Wiederer, who was stopped on a penalty shot earlier in the game, potted the rebound for his 3^rd of the season to give San Jose the lead at 3-2, a lead they would hold onto for the win.  Hutchinson had an off night, giving up 3 goals on 26 shots, and taking his 2^nd regulation loss of the season.

On Sunday, the Moose looked to ring in the New Year right, and start a new point streak.  They would get off to a good start on a powerplay.  Michael Spacek would rip a one-timer past goalie Antoine Bibeau for his 5^th goal of the season, giving the Moose the lead just over 4 minutes in.  They would extend the lead at the 11 minute mark.  Chase De Leo would take a pass from Mike Sgarbossa in the slot and put it home past Bibeau for his 7^th goal of the season, and the Moose took a 2-0 lead into the 1^st intermission.

In the 2^nd period, the Barracuda would get back into the game on a strange play.  Brandon Mashinter came down the left side of the ice and threw the puck on net.  As Michael Hutchinson went to stop the puck, his foot pushed the net off the moorings, but the puck went into the net before the mooring was completely off the ice, resulting in a good goal.  The Barracuda would tie the game just over 2 minutes later.  The Moose got running around in the defensive zone, lost coverage on Adam Helewka, and the Barracuda forward would wrist it past Hutchinson to tie the game at 2.  But the Moose retook the lead just over 3 minutes after that on the powerplay.  Chase De Leo would rip a one-timer past Bibeau from the right faceoff circle.  His 8^th of the season and 2^nd of the game would make it 3-2 Manitoba after 2.

The Moose would retake a 2 goal lead just 30 seconds into the 3^rd period.  Peter Stoykewych’s point shot was redirected by Buddy Robinson past Bibeau.  Robinson’s 13^th goal off the season puts him 2 off his career high set in 2013-14, and made it 4-2 Moose.  The Moose would put the game away late in the third period on their 12^th powerplay of the game.  Nic Petan would score his 7^th goal of the season, on a one-timer from the right faceoff dot, making the final 5-2 Moose.  Michael Hutchinson rebounded from a rough game the night before, stopping 21 of 23 shots for his 14^th win of the season.

D Sami Niku, a Jets 2015 7^th round pick, had 1 goal and 2 assists in the 2 games this week.  So far in his rookie season, Niku has 5 goals and 18 assists in 33 games played.  Niku is coming off a season in the Finnish league where he had 5 goals and 22 assists in 59 games.

As of January 5^th, 2017

The Moose head on the road for a pair of Central Division road games this weekend.  Tonight, they are in Chicago to face the Wolves for the 4^th time this season (7:00 PM, moosehockey.com).  Saturday, the Moose visit the Iowa Wild for the 3^rd time this season (7:00 PM, moosehockey.com).  The Moose will then return home for a pair of games against the Grand Rapids Griffins on Monday and Wednesday (7:00 PM, TSN 1290).