Moose end year with 5-2 win over San Jose

WINNIPEG – The Manitoba Moose (24-6-1-2) and San Jose Barracuda (15-12-0-2) finished off 2017 with a matinee clash at Bell MTS Place on Sunday. Manitoba’s power play got the Moose on the board at 4:22 on a Michael Spacek one-timer. The home-side extended the advantage at 11:17, courtesy of a slick feed from Michael Sgarbossa to Chase De Leo, who finished off the play. Manitoba controlled the play in the first, outshooting San Jose by a 12-4 count.

San Jose battled back in the second period. Antoine Bibeau kept the visitors in reach with a pair of stops as the Moose came up with two great chances on the penalty kill. Brandon Mashinter got the Barracuda within one at 8:20 of the frame and he was followed by Adam Helewka just 2:15 later to set the score at 2-2. The Moose pulled back in front, courtesy of another power play goal, at 13:27 of the frame. Buddy Robinson set the table for Chase De Leo who fired a one-timer past Bibeau along the ice. The go-ahead marker held up to the break with the Moose taking a 3-2 lead to the third.

Just 32 seconds into the final stanza, Peter Stoykewych’s point shot redirected into the net off Buddy Robinson to restore Manitoba’s two-goal edge. The game took on a feisty air as the teams combined for 54 penalty minutes in the period. Manitoba was able to capitalize on one of its trips to the power play with Nic Petan ripping a shot to the twine at 13:28. Petan’s marker capped off the scoring as the Moose rolled to a 5-2 victory to earn a season series split (2-2-0-0) with the Barracuda.