WINNIPEG – The hottest team in the AHL returns to action from their holiday break as the Manitoba Moose take on the San Jose Barracuda at Bell MTS Place. The Moose have amassed an impressive 23-5-1-2 record through their first 31 games and enjoy an 11 point lead over Rockford, the next best team in the Western conference. San Jose 
have gotten some positive results lately going 3-0-0-1 in their last four games.
The Moose got off to a shaky start in this one as starting goaltender Michael Hutchinson flubbed a play off the backboards and left the puck unattended in front for Filip Sandberg to deposit his 6th of the season. The assist went to John McCarthy just 1:10 into the opening frame. Both teams seemed to struggle with jitters after the extended league break but the normally slick Moose were especially sloppy with many poor passes and disjointed rushes. Nic Petan was awarded a penalty shot on a rare “thrown stick” call but he was unable to beat Barracuda goalie Troy Grosenick. The period ends with a 1-0 San Jose lead on the scoreboard and a 12-8 edge in shots.
The Barracuda got a penalty shot of their own early in the second period but Hutchinson didn’t have to make a save as Manuel Wiederer sailed his effort over the net. The Moose bot on the board as Mike Sgarbossa pounced on a loose puck in the crease to even things at 1-1. JC Lipon and Chase De Leo picked up the helpers at 7:38. The tie was short lived as the Barracuda regained their lead just 23 seconds later. Brandon Bollig was sent in by Michael Brodzinski to put away a nifty deke on Hutchinson. The Moose seems to find their legs and nerves again in the second period, carrying the bulk of the play and holding an 11-4 shot advantage.
The Moose evened things up again at the 5:06 mark of the third as Sami Niku sniped a powerplay marker low to the stick side on Grosenick, Nic Petan with the set up. San Jose restored their one goal lead with Manuel Wiederer depositing a rebound past Hutchinson with just 5:06 remaining in the third. Cavan Fitzgerald and goalie Troy Grosenick with the assists. The Moose press late in the frame, but come up short as they fall 3-2 to the Barracuda. Shots on goal end up at 26-26. The Moose are surely missing Jack Roslovic, Julian Melchiori and Tucker Poolman who are up with the Jets. These teams square off again in the rematch tomorrow at 2:00.
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