Manitoba Moose

Hey there guys and gals,

Just waiting for Game 2 between the Moose and Aeros. This is Houston’s third game in four nights, so the Moose have got to have the advantage here. But you never know, and that’s why they play the games.

FIRST PERIOD

“Whoo”: acceptable arena expression. Just not during the national anthem, please.

The Aeros get a power play just 1:08 into the game as Alex Bolduc takes a boarding call. It looked close to the Houston player’s head, but I don’t think he got it. If the ref is making the call for the sake of eliminating head shots, it’s the thought that counts.

Speaking of “counts”, that’s apparently what Corey Locke does with his unhatched chickens, unless he was celebrating jamming the put into Cory Schneider’s waiting glove. Fantastic save by #35 early in the game.

12:24 left and the buzzing Aeros force Dusty Collins into a hooking call. Three games in four nights? No problem, apparently. Oh, and three cheers for the glass crew, who replace a broken pane quickly and effectively. The unsung heroes of the arena crew.

There’s a curious non-call as Anton Khudobin tosses his stick at a streaking Michael Grabner, who was also fending off a hook. And he still almost scored. Wow.

The Moose take the lead 11 minutes in as Jason Krog centres the puck, but Paul Albers pulls a Steve Smith (former Oiler or American Dad character – I’m sure he’s clumsy this way, too) and pops it past Khudobin into his own net. 1-0 Moose.

Grabner gets his revenge as he pots a Nolan Baumgartner rebound into a wide-open net. 2-0 Moose.

We might want to give the horn guy a raise, as Ray Sawada pots a rebound over the sprawling Aero goalie. Just like that, 3-0 Manitoba.

More incentive to go further in the playoffs: prize cannons.

Sign watch: “Houston loves fishstix”. I can’t explain the reference here, but if you get it, it’s hilarious. A sign I’d be interested to see is something referencing that Anton Khudobin is from Kazakhstan. A young Kazakh in the middle of Texas. Haven’t seen that before…

SECOND PERIOD

Former Cleveland Baron Nolan Schaefer is in net to start the second. It makes no difference, though, as Cody Hodgson snaps a shot past him just 1:55 into his tenure to make it 4-0 Moose. It’s one of the loudest cheers during a goal announcement I’ve ever heard.

Michael Grabner pots his second goal of the night soon after, and Manitoba has a 5-0 lead built up.

11-ish minutes left, Katy Perry’s “Hot ‘N’ Cold” plays. We’re trying to get up to nine straight, so this isn’t the type of jinx we need. Maybe Nelly’s “Hot in Herre” would be better.

10:07 left, Robbie Earl and Nathan McIver mix it up. McIver takes a double roughing while Earl is slapped with a single.

Ooh, Schaefer is more chant-friendly. Thanks Coach Constantine!

After J.P. Testwuide pulls the Aeros to within four, Marco Rosa wrists a shot past Schneider to bring the score up to 5-2. The third might yet have some suspense.

The Moose were outshot 17-9 in the second. Yarr.

THIRD PERIOD

An announced crowd of 9736 watched the Moose in action here tonight. It would have been awesome to break 10000, but the energy was pretty awesome during the game.

At about the two minute mark, a steady flow of fans start to leave. I understand (but don’t agree with it) during a loss, but isn’t part of being a fan singing when you’re winning? I live for the rush I get when the final buzzer sounds.

The Moose stem the Aeros attack by outshooting them 11-5 in the period. Down to the heart of Texas for Games 3, 4, and maybe 5. Heading down to a much different climate than Toronto or Grand Rapids, and it’ll be interesting to see how the Moose respond.