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Preview: Moose vs. Colorado - Jan. 4 - Manitoba Moose

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Preview: Moose vs. Colorado – Jan. 4

By: Daniel Fink | Published: January 4th 2020

Moose vs. Colorado – Bell MTS Place – 6 p.m. CT
Broadcast: moosehockey.com/listenliveAHLTV
Tickets: moosehockey.com/tickets

The Moose look to finish off their six-game home stand on a winning note tonight as they play a rematch against the Colorado Eagles on Star Wars Night at Bell MTS Place. The team is selling Star Wars themed Moose shirts ($25), along with lightsabers ($20) in support of the Children's Wish Foundation. The first 3,000 fans through doors will also receive a Moose 20th season poster. Be on the lookout for your favourite Star Wars characters on the concourse throughout the game as well. A quick note if you're coming in your best outfit from a galaxy far, far away. Lightsabers are allowed through security, but blasters and other items resembling firearms will not. You'll also need to remove masks while entering and ordering alcoholic beverages.

On the ice, the focus for the Moose this weekend was to slow down the scorching hot offence of the Colorado Eagles. Manitoba managed to do that last night, unfortunately it also came with a halt in the offensive zone for the Moose. Colin Campbell scored late in the second period, and that was the only tally of the game. Colorado netminder Adam Werner made 30 saves as the Moose dropped a 1-0 decision to the Eagles.

The home side certainly accomplished their mission on the defensive side of the puck. The Moose allowed just 23 shots, with Colorado mustering just three shots in the first period. Eric Comrie was solid, making 22 saves in his return to the Moose crease. The penalty kill went 3/3. On most nights, the combination of those factors would lead to a Moose win.

The Manitoba power play had two opportunities, both coming at the end of the first period. With Dan Renouf and Jayson Megna in the box, the Moose had some good looks from Leon Gawanke and Kristian Vesalainen on the two-man advantage. Werner kept them off the board, and that was the story the rest of the way. A Kristian Reichel breakaway, and another good look for Leon Gawanke were some of the grade-A chances in the second and third.

"I thought in the second period for half the period we didn't skate as much as we could," Moose head coach Pascal Vincent commented after the game. "Not that we were slow, but we need to be on our toes for 60 minutes. It's a one goal game, a 1-0 game, I thought it was well played by both teams. Some breakdowns on both sides. They took advantage of one, and we didn't."

Werner certainly seems to have a certain affinity for Bell MTS Place. On Nov. 12 the netminder 40 saves against the Winnipeg Jets as a member of the Colorado Avalanche in his NHL debut to blank Manitoba's NHL affiliate. With last night's game under his belt Mariestad, Swe. native has made 70 consecutive saves in Winnipeg.

At the other end of the ice, Eric Comrie was a strong foundation for the Moose to work from. Despite taking the loss, Comrie showed much of the form that made him the club's 2018-19 MVP. Comrie has allowed two or less goals six of his last seven AHL starts. That includes his final two games of 2018-19 and four outings with the Tucson Roadrunners this season.

"We thought we deserved to win, but they could also be in the room thinking they deserved to win," Comrie told members of the media following the loss. "It's kind of one of those games where it's like both teams kind of deserved to win. They ended up getting one past us... and that's it."

Leon Gawanke led the Moose last night with six shots on goal. That marks a new season high for the rookie defender. Gawanke has tallied four or more shots on goal five times this season, while recording three or more shots in 11 of his 24 games on the campaign. His 49 shots on the season rank eighth among the league's rookie defenders. The Berlin, Ger. product leads Moose rookies with 13 points (1G, 12A) on the season.

Coverage of tonight's game on moosehockey.com/listenlive and AHLTV gets rolling at 5:45 p.m.