Manitoba Moose

MANITOBA DROPS BOTH CONTESTS ON THEIR THIRD ROAD TRIP

By Christina Caligiuri

In their second earliest start of the season, the Manitoba Moose dropped their second consecutive game to the Toronto Marlies 4-1 at the Ricoh Coliseum on Sunday afternoon. Michel Ouellet was responsible for the lone Moose goal, while Julien Ellis blocked 26 of 30 shots in his first AHL start this season.
 

First Period

In his first appearance this season for the Moose, Julien Ellis backed up the visiting squad from Manitoba, while Justin Pogge, reassigned by the Toronto Maple Leafs this morning, manned the pipes for the Marlies.

On their first shot of the night, Toronto winger Brent Aubin tricked Ellis and netted the first of the night a mere 2:33 into the contest.

The Marlies sacrificed their first powerplay at 5:52 when Andy Schneider was penalized for high-sticking, but the Moose were unable to score and continued to trail in shots 8-4.

Darryl Boyce’s slashing fine put the visitors back on the man-advantage at 14:30, and this time the Moose found the back of the net. With a slap shot from Shaun Heshka, Michel Ouellet tipped the puck over Pogge’s glove and under the cross bar to knot the game at one. 
 

Second Period

The Marlies regained the lead four minutes into the second period. Alex Foster was on the receiving end of a pass and snapped the puck through Ellis’s five-hole to put Toronto up 2-1. 

The puck saw even time on both sides of the ice for the remainder of the frame, but the Marlies were still leading in the shot department, 22-16, after 40 minutes of play.
 

Third Period

Thirty-one seconds into the final frame saw scoring action from the home town Marlies. Staffan Kronwall snuck the bullet passed Ellis to extend their lead, 3-1.

The Marlies benefited from their first powerplay of the night when Michel Ouellet was put away for tripping. Toronto expanded their lead even further with an extra attacker, when Max Taylor shot the puck into the visiting net, 4-1.

Despite three powerplays in the third period, the Moose were not able to inch closer to the Marlies and as a result dropped their second game in two nights to the Toronto club, 4-1.