By Tim Campbell
HOUSTON -- Let's dispense with the diplomacy for a moment: the Manitoba Moose had fashioned their four-game winning streak on the backs of the uninspiring Lake Erie Monsters and the downward-spiralling Rochester Americans.
Their current challenge in Texas, which began with a 3-0 daytime defeat against the Houston Aeros on Thursday, will bear no resemblance to the recent recreation enjoyed in the North Division.
"I won't lie and say our last two opponents (were tougher), no disrespect to them," pronounced Moose coach Scott Arniel after his team was clearly second best at Toyota Center in Thursday's morning start. "They were teams struggling and having a tough go.
"Now we're facing two teams in Houston and San Antonio that both have great home records and they're tough to beat in their own buildings. They both skate and battle and if guys don't get ready for Saturday, Sunday's game and Tuesday's (both in San Antonio) things aren't going to get any easier."
The Moose, now 21-13-2-1, will have a day to think and practice before the trip resumes here Saturday.
"This (West) division is extremely tight," said Moose centre Brad Moran, who had three of his team's 21 shots against Aeros shutout goalie Nolan Schaefer. "Every team is over .500 and we know they're big points for them.
"For us, we've got to take a look in the mirror. Our last four wins were against teams that are struggling and below us in the standings but in order to climb up, we have to beat these teams and we're going to be playing a lot of them in the second half."
We may have come to the time in the schedule when the Moose lineup issues -- eight regulars are currently missing due to call-ups and injury -- are going to be exposed.
They certainly were on Thursday. Arniel agreed rather pointedly, but both he and rugged defenceman Nathan McIver were equally adamant that some of these problems can be corrected.
Thursday's major issue was a lacklustre start, exactly what the Aeros were hoping for.
"You have to get your nose dirty and battle, and I think we have a team that can do that, but it's 19 guys, not just five or six," Arniel said. "We don't have the luxury, being short-manned more offensively, just to rely on our power play.
"One thing about coming on the road; if you're going to earn points, you're going to earn them the hard way."
The Moose didn't catch their stride against Houston, now 20-15-1-2, until the start of the second period, and by that time it was 2-0.
"It was too late," McIver said. "We said before the game we needed to have a good, solid five or 10 minutes, a good first period because we knew they were a team, when they get the lead, they just shut it down.
"We know this is a really hard road trip, four hard games because Houston and San Antonio are both playing well right now. We can't use excuses anymore that we're missing (players) because we showed the last two weeks that we can win with this group. We have to have a better start on Saturday."
Rattling chains
No doubt Arniel will be rattling a few chains before the puck drops then, based on his pointed post-game comments on Thursday.
"Our compete level in the first period... well, we had some people in the first period that the game they played at home wasn't the game they played on the road," he said.
"And some people looked not ready to go in the sense of not wanting to battle and compete.
"We had some guys deflecting pucks away, not wanting to get their nose in there or take a hit to make a play. We've been down this road before with some people. Some people have to learn to play 80 games and 40 of them are on the road."
tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca
Highlight Reel
Houston 3 Manitoba 0
FIRST PERIOD
The home team starts fast with a power-play goal by Steve Kelly that Moose goalie Drew MacIntyre should have had. Peter Olvecky gets a gift second goal for Houston when a fortuitous bounce lands right on his stick with MacIntyre going the wrong way. The Moose are terrible in the first, with the exception that they showed considerable backbone standing up for themselves when several dirty checks are unloaded by Aeros' Cal Clutterbuck and Brandon Rogers.
Houston 2 / Moose 0
SECOND PERIOD
Manitoba springs to life, but runs up against a solid Schaefer and a team that is very determined defensively. At 19:53, Maxim Norreau's point shot goes all the way during a power play, and this game is a lost cause for the Moose.
Houston 3 / Moose 0
THIRD PERIOD
The players continue their spunky play -- the school-day crowd of 5,962 loved it -- and some tempers fray during final-period action, which probably sets up a very watchable game here Saturday.
Houston 3 / Moose 0
ICE CHIPS
Game-breaker
It's an early play but you knew that Olvecky's goal at 10:40 of the first, however lucky, was going to make it a very difficult morning/afternoon for the visitors.
Better, now worse
The Moose injury problems suffered yet another blow on Thursday. Defenceman Danny Groulx left during the first period with an undisclosed upper-body problem and isn't expected to play the next game. Forward Jannik Hansen, who's been out since late December with a concussion, just isn't right and flew back to Wininpeg on Thursday. The team is without seven regular forwards and now one defenceman.
Piling on
It's almost a case of which bad news you'd prefer to hear first with the Moose lineup these days. Forward Ryan Shannon had hoped the latest setback with his knee wasn't going to keep him out long but he visited Canucks doctors in Vancouver this week and GM Dave Nonis said it's been decided Shannon needs rest and won't return for at last four more weeks.
Next
Moose at Houston, Saturday at Toyota Center, 7:30 p.m. (CJOB).
-- Tim Campbell
