Game Recap: Chicago 2 at Moose 3

Manitoba Moose (9-5-1-1) vs. Chicago Wolves (4-8-1-0)

Wednesday, November 15, 2017 – Bell MTS Place, Winnipeg, MB

Goal Summary

Game Story
The Manitoba Moose (9-5-1-1) returned to home ice after an extended absence to face off against the Chicago Wolves (4-8-1-0) at Bell MTS Place.  The visitors got things started just 1:16 into the contest when Stefan Matteau found room to deke his way around Michael Hutchinson to open the scoring.  Both teams got in some work on the power play, but the penalty kills held fast on two chances per side.  The Moose found a tying marker with 3:14 remaining in the period.  Peter Stoykewych went hard to the net and cleaned up a JC Lipon rebound for the tally.  Hutchinson did his part to get Manitoba into the intermission tied 1-1, making 13 saves in the period.

Reversing the script from the first period, the Moose grabbed the lead 2:40 into the second.  Brendan Lemieux busted in off the wing before firing a wrist shot in off the bar for his fourth of the season.  The teams’ penalty kills continued to rule over the power plays with both teams coming up empty on their chances with the man advantage.  Chicago tied the game with 4:37 remaining in the period when Matteau ripped home his second of the night.  The 2-2 score held until the end of the frame as the teams went to the third tied.

The ninth man advantage of the game saw the Moose power play unit break through.  Lemieux worked the puck back to Cameron Schilling whose point shot was tipped to the back of the net by Mason Appleton 3:22 into the period.  Michael Hutchinson came up big following the goal, turning away a Chicago two-on-one chance with a kick save, then stopping Teemu Pulkkinen on a breakaway to keep Manitoba in front.  Hutchinson made 16 saves in the third for a total of 42 on the evening, leading the Moose to a 3-2 victory.

Quick Hits

• The Moose are the first team in the Central Division to reach 20 points on the season.
• Brendan Lemieux posted two points (1G, 1A) in his return to the Moose lineup.
• JC Lipon recorded his 50th assist since the Moose returned to Winnipeg.
• Attendance was announced at 3,061.

Quotable

Head Coach Pascal Vincent – “I’ve been studying the power play for a long time and the timing of the goals is as important as the amount, well you want to score every time for sure or you want to create some momentum, but that goal was pretty big and we’re in the top ten. We were ninth before the game on the power play and I think sixth before tonight on the PK so our special teams have been going pretty well. And there’s a confidence factor in those guys that they know they can score goals and that goal was big at the right time."

Defenceman Peter Stoykewych – “We probably weren’t at our best for most of the game, but we found way to come out with a win, and that’s something that we struggled to do in the past. You can really see the maturity of the younger guys and how the older guys have brought us forward to a point where we can go forward and secure that game there in the third after we got that lead.”

Linked Up
Game Summary: http://mbmoo.se/2AJxwl2
Highlights and Post-Game Coverage: https://moosehockey.com/moosetv/
Photo Gallery: http://mbmoo.se/2zHG4M6

What’s Next?
The Moose and Wolves take a day break before their rematch on Friday 7 p.m. CT.  It’s Law Enforcement Appreciation Night at Bell MTS Place.  The Moose will sport specialty jerseys honouring Manitoba Law Enforcement Officers.  Tickets for the game are available at moosehockey.com/tickets.