Morning action started with some fireworks as Brown and Gratton went at it with two seconds gone in the game. Both exchanged a flurry of right hands but it was Gratton who got the better of Mike Brown. Both were assessed five minute majors.
The Moose took their second powerplay of the game after Riley Cote was called for a cross-check on Jesse Schultz at 4:47. The Moose worked their powerplay in the Phantom's zone, but soon had their man advantage negated after Bieksa took a high-sticking penalty.
With 7:21 to play in the first the Phantoms led the shot count 6-3.
The Phantoms had the best scoring chance of the first period on the powerplay with just over three minutes to play in the first, after a Jaffray high-sticking penalty. The puck came to Phantom's winger Ruzicka on the left side of the net, Ouellet was forced to slide over and make a nice pad save.
With exactly one minute to play in the period the Moose took a 1-0 lead on the powerplay after a Burrow's point shot found it's way to the stick of Jason Jaffray who whacked it home to end a fifteen game goal drought.
At the end of the first, the Moose led 1-0 and trailed in shots 11-8.
After killing off the penalty to start the second period the Moose went back on the penalty kill with just over three minutes played in the second after Butenchon was called for a trip. This Phantoms powerplay only lasted for five seconds, after Philadelphia took an interference penalty. The teams skated four on four for 1:55.
Maxime Ouellet was forced into three quick saves as the Phantoms peppered the Moose goalteder with shots on the powerplay, seven minutes into the second period.
Manitoba looked for their second goal with just over seven minutes to play as they put pressured Martin Houle. The best chance of this drive came from Alex Burrows who took a pass from behind the net and fired a one-timer on goal. Houle was up to the challenge as he turned the shot away with his left pad.
With just over four minutes to play in the second period the Moose trailed 21-14 in shots.
The Moose took a two goal lead at 16:57 after Jaffray took a beautiful outlet pass from Mojsiz up the left wing boards, broke in on goal and put a perfect pass across the slot to Jozef Balej who put it into a wide open net.
The Phantoms tied got one back at 18:27 as the Moose turned the puck over on the back boards as Gratton fed the pass out to Kavanagh who put it passed Ouellet to get the Phantoms on the scoresheet.
After two period the Moose led 2-1 and trailed in shots 23-15.
Prestin Ryan again put the Moose up two, minutes into the first period as he threw an innocent looking point shot on net that fooled Houle and snuck in underneath the netminder's glove hand.
Midway through the third period the Phantoms led the shot count 25-21.
With five minutes to play in regulation neither team seemed to control the play as the Phantoms showed no urgency to get back into the game.
Philadelphia pulled Houle for the extra attacker with just under two minutes to play in regulation. The Phantoms controlled the play in the Moose zone pressing to tie the game up but it was too little too late as the Moose held on for a 3-1 victory.
1
2
3
TOTAL
Philadelphia
0
1
0
1
Manitoba
1
1
1
3
First Period
1. Manitoba, Jaffray 2 (Burrows, Schultz) 19:00 (PP)
Penalties: Gratton, Phi Major(Fighting) 0:02; Brown, Man Major(Fighting) 0:02; Grant, Phi (Cross-checking) 0:43; Cote, Phi (Cross-checking) 4:47; Bieksa, Man (High-sticking) 5:59; Jaffray, Man (High-sticking) 15:55; Skolney, Phi (Tripping) 18:36;
Second Period
2. Manitoba, Balej 12 (Jaffray, Mojzis) 16:57
3. Philadelphia, Kavanagh 12 (Gratton) 18:27
Penalties: Butenschon, Man (Hooking) 3:45; Chouinard, Phi (Interference) 3:50; Bayda, Man (Tripping) 6:23; Cote, Phi (Roughing) 19:38;
Third Period
4. Manitoba, Ryan 3 (McIver, Bayda) 2:34;
Penalties: No Penalties
Attendance:
6189
SHOTS ON GOAL
1
2
3
TOTAL
Philadelphia
11
12
10
33
Manitoba
9
6
8
24
POWER PLAY STATS
Philadelphia (0 for 5)
Manitoba (1 for 5)
GOALIES
HOME TEAM
S
SV
PCT (%)
Ouellet
33
32
96.9%
Flaherty
0
0
00.0%
AWAY TEAM
S
SV
PCT (%)
Houle
24
21
87.5%
Storr
0
0
00.0%
1. MTB - J. Jaffray 2. MTB - J. Balej 3. MTB - M. Ouellet
The Moose will continue on their East Coast road trip as they head into Wilkes Barre to take on the first place Penguins in back to back meetings on Friday and Saturday night. Listen to the games live on CJOB.
