WINNIPEG, Manitoba- The Manitoba Moose took to the ice Sunday in front of almost 8500 very loud fans at the MTS Centre in downtown Winnipeg, to take on the Abbortsford Heat. The Moose were looking to get a few points closer to the North Division leading Lake Erie Monsters as they entered the game four points back in the division. The first period was a sleeper period for the Moose and their fans as they played sloppy hockey and ended up turning over the puck more times than they even had control of the puck and ended the first twenty minutes down to the Heat 1-0 with a goal by Ryan McMurchy.
In the second, Manitoba came back to the ice with something to prove and was skating harder and faster and finally the Heat were giving a tripping penalty that is when the Moose special teams took over the game. During the two minute power play Manitoba got a great goal from Mark Flood who wired it past the Heat goalie to knot the game at one goal apiece.
After forty minutes, the horn blew and everything was tied up in Winnipeg. The third period was dominated by the Moose who were too much for the Heat to handle. Marco Rosa, the long-time Moose player who is a big draw in the Manitoba capital had returned Friday night after missing 29 games due to injury and early in the third Rosa was able to get a great shot past the Heat and put the Moose up 2-1 in the third.
The Moose forechecking in this game was stellar and they were able to get the Heat to consistently turn over the puck in the center ice plays.
Stefan Schneider was a big part of the Moose winning this game as special teams took over play and killed off two penalties, one to Travis Ramsey for delay of game for shooting the puck over the glass and a penalty to Kevin Clark for hooking. Schneider’s return on Sundays game was vital to the special teams as he blocked many shots on both penalty kills and was able to still get several shots on the net. With 25 seconds left in the third period Moose winger Yann Sauve was digging in the Heat zone and was checked from behind by Ryan Stone who was given a two-minute minor.
The play and penalty bring into question rule 48 the blind side hit rule in the American Hockey League. The Moose were given a power play and failed to convert on their advantage, but the penalty ended the Heat’s chance for a comeback.
The Moose were able to outplay, out-skate and out-muscle the Heat in all aspects of the game but it was the Moose special teams that really made the biggest impact.
The Moose are within two points of the North leading Lake Erie Monsters, next up for the Moose is Tuesday and Wednesday in Winnipeg to battle the Rochester Americans.
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