The Manitoba Moose (31-17-2-2) clashed with the Abbotsford Canucks (26-19-4-1) for a Tuesday evening battle at Abbotsford Centre. The Moose were coming off a 6-1 win against Belleville on Saturday.
Abbotsford opened the scoring eight minutes into the first. A rebound popped free in the Moose zone and was shot past Arvid Holm by defenceman Devante Stephens. Manitoba fired back and tied the game 2:28 later with a goal from C.J. Suess. Mikey Eyssimont spotted the forward in front and Suess knocked the puck past Michael DiPietro for the 1-1 tie. That would be all the scoring in the opening period, as Holm finished with five saves and DiPietro checked in with eight of his own.
The second period saw the Moose and Canucks put together an impressive defensive effort. Manitoba was sent to the box three times in the middle frame, but the penalty kill was up to par and held the Canucks off the board. The visiting Moose finished the second frame with seven shots, while the Canucks fired eight on Holm.
Both teams continued their stellar defensive play in the third period with neither side willing to give an inch. Manitoba outshot Abbotsford 7-3 in the final frame, but goals were hard to come by as the horn sounded to draw the third to a close. Overtime was needed and after a bevy of chances both ways, the Moose eventually found the winner as Jeff Malott scored his 18th goal of the season in the final minute to power Manitoba to the 2-1 win.
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