Manitoba Moose

JASON JAFFRAY NETS GAME-WINNER AGAINST FORMER CLUB

By Christina Caligiuri

The Manitoba Moose saw their two-game winning streak come to an end on Tuesday night when they dropped their first-ever match-up against the Abbotsford Heat by a 4-2 score at the MTS Centre. Michael Grabner extended his goal streak to three games, Mario Bliznak netted his first of the season and goaltender Cory Schneider stopped 15 of 19 shots in the loss. Former Moose, Jason Jaffray, notched the game-winner for Abbotsford in the second period.

Driven to keep their winning streak alive, the Moose spent much of the first few minutes in the Heat zone, but several misdirected shots kept their shot total low.

At 7:57 a scuffle between Tommy Maxwell and Riley Armstrong looked like it was in the beginning stages of a brawl, but the linesmen separated the players before any punches were tossed. As a result, both parties were handed roughing penalties bringing play to four-on-four.

An interference penalty to Geoff Waugh at 16:55 gave Abbotsford the first powerplay of the game, but Manitoba’s penalty killers were sharp and didn’t allow any shots on goaltender Cory Schneider during the two-minute advantage.

With both teams back at even strength Abbotsford would be the first to hit the scoreboard as right-winger Kris Chucko’s shot deflected off of Schneider’s blocker and into the net, 1-0. 

Seconds later, Riley Armstrong was reprimanded for hooking and Manitoba benefited from their first powerplay.  From in-between the red circles, Michael Grabner scored his fourth of the season when his wrist shot deflected off a visiting defenseman to knot the game.

At the midway point of the game Manitoba gained the lead. With a pass from Michael Grabner, centre Mario Bliznak drove the net and squeaked the puck through Irving’s five-hole for his first goal of the season.

The home team didn’t have much time to celebrate as Abbotsford answered back 1:40 later. Jamie Lundmark’s shot was initially stopped by Schneider, but the puck fell out of his grasp and behind the red line to tie the game at two.

A defensive slip up by Manitoba allowed former Moose Jason Jaffray to escape on a breakaway. Flying towards the net, Jaffray hit the rooftop on Schneider to put the Heat back on top, 3-2.

\At 4:51 of the third the Heat got some cushion room when Riley Armstrong snapped the puck between Schneider and his left goal post to double their lead, 4-2.

The Moose pulled Schneider with two minutes left to play in the final period, in hopes of forcing overtime, but time expired before the club could make a move and the Moose dropped their first-ever matchup to the Abbotsford Heat 4-2.