The Manitoba Moose (37-28-5-2) won a defensive battle, 1-0, against the Stockton Heat (29-29-4-2) Saturday afternoon at Bell MTS Place. The Moose had the 7,122 in attendance on their feet early when Mason Appleton opened the scoring 3:09 into the game. Kristian Vesalainen sent a pass out of the corner to Logan Stanley for a one-timer, and Appleton was there to clean up the rebound for the goal. The Moose power play had plenty of opportunity to work with four chances in the period, but Stockton netminder Jon Gillies was equal to the task, making 14 saves to hold Manitoba to a 1-0 lead.
The second period saw the goaltenders keep both teams off the scoresheet. Despite a number of chances from both sides, Mikhail Berdin made 12 saves and Jon Gillies stopped eight Moose offerings. After four power plays in the first period, the Moose penalty kill got its work in during the second period. The shorthanded unit shut down three Stockton man advantages as Manitoba took their 1-0 edge into the final frame.
The tight-checking affair continued into the third with the clubs combining for just 15 shots on goal. The Heat came close to tying the game midway through the frame with a long shot getting through a crowd in front of the Moose net and hitting the crossbar behind Berdin. Manitoba nearly added to its lead when Marko Dano stepped back and flipped a puck over Gillies, but the Stockton netminder got some crossbar help of his own. The Heat kept up the pressure with a late power play, but Berdin had all the answers, backstopping the Moose to a 1-0 victory.
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