Moose get past San Jose, 5-2

The Manitoba Moose (8-4-1-1) and San Jose Barracuda (4-6-0-1) faced off in a Remembrance Day matinee at SAP Center in San Jose on Saturday.  The Manitoba offence exploded for three goals in a span of 5:31 to build up a healthy lead late in the first.  After a pair of backdoor plays didn’t connect with the Moose on the power play, Mike Sgarbossa set up Jack Roslovic for a one-timer to open the scoring at 12:23.  Four minutes later, Roslovic wrapped the puck into the crease where Sgarbossa was able to fight it over the line for a 2-0 lead.  Just 81 seconds after Manitoba’s second goal, Cameron Schilling fired a shot from the point that redirected off JC Lipon and into the goal for a 3-0 Moose lead.  Eric Comrie was busy in the period, making 13 saves, the best of those on an Adam Helewka breakaway that Comrie shut down.  It all combined to send Manitoba to the intermission ahead 3-0.

The Moose attack calmed in the early stages of the second period as the penalty kill went to work.  Manitoba shut down Barracuda power plays two minutes and eight minutes into the period.  That set the stage for the Moose to extend their lead later in the frame.  Coming up on 12 minutes into the period, Sami Niku put a pass across the crease to a streaking Roslovic who shoveled the puck into the Barracuda goal for his second of the day.  With just 53 seconds left in the period, Jansen Harkins’ shot from the high slot hit a San Jose defender and redirected to the top corner of the Barracuda net for a 5-0 Moose lead after 40 minutes.

San Jose broke up the shutout bid 5:51 into the third period on a Kevin Labanc marker, courtesy a quick backhand feed from Daniel O’Regan.  The Barracuda continued to press in the third, posting 16 shots in the period and would cash in on one more.  Brandon Bollig got some room in the slot to fire home a wrister through traffic with 1:07 left on the clock.  The Moose penalty kill erased two more Barracuda power plays in the third, taking care of all five chances against.  Comrie made 36 saves as the Moose won their fourth in a row by a 5-2 score.