Winnipeg, MB — Its “Teddy Bear Toss” day at Bell MTS Place as the Manitoba Moose look to extend their winning streak to a club record 10 games. Behind the stellar goaltending of Michael Hutchinson, the Moose have launched into 1st place in the AHL’s 
Central Division with an impressive 17-5-1-1 record.
Plenty of action in the opening period to recap – the Moose opened the scoring on a point shot from Cameron Schilling which eluded Milwaukee tender Juuse Saros at the 6:15 mark with Peter Stoykewych and Brendan Lemieux with the helpers. The Admirals pulled even just 23 seconds later on a Phil Lane redirect on the shot from Tyler Moy. The Moose continued the attack and pressed the Admirals in their zone – Nic Petan and Kirill Gotovets both finding iron with their shots. Cam Maclise gave the Moose the lead on a pretty set up in the slot with Jansen Harkins and Michael Spacek assisting at 13:33. Mason Appleton extended the lead with a redirect of a tight angle shot from Gotovets to beat a frustrated Saros – Nic Petan with the other helper 15:52 into the first period. The fast skating frame ends with a 3-1 Moose lead.
Milwaukee got the start they were looking for in the middle frame as Jimmy Oligny snapped a wrister high to the stick side of Hutchinson at the 1:08 mark. Bobby Butler and Jack Dougherty with the assists. Both teams then seemed to settle down and play some good back and forth hockey, realizing that a small mistake could turn the game either way. The period ends with the Moose clinging to a 3-2 lead setting up what should be a fun third period. Moose held the shots lead after 2 periods with a 15-13 margin.
The third period delivered the back and forth action anticipated with the Moose getting their closest chance on another goal post early in the frame. The Admirals kept the pressure on and were finally rewarded on the power play as Tyler Kelleher deposited a loose puck past a sprawling Michael Hutchinson 13:00 minutes in to tie things up at 3-3. Regulation time decides nothing so a 3 on 3 OT session is required. Some excellent chances for both teams in OT but neither team could solve the other’s goaltender so its off to a shootout where the Admirals come out on top outscoring the Moose 2-1 to take this one 4-3, ending the Moose 9 game winning streak. These two teams renew hostilities Sunday at 2:00 pm.
However the big winners on this day were the families in Winnipeg who rely on the Christmas Cheer Board as over 2100 stuffed animals were collected in the annual Teddy Bear Toss.
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