The Moose had a rocky start last night in Abbotsford, but their goaltender, Thomas Milic, was once again the hero between the pipes. Following a stellar shutout in their previous game, Milic continued to shine, leading his team to a second consecutive shutout victory with a 4-0 win over the Canucks.
David Gustafsson remained sidelined, marking his sixth missed game. The coaching staff made a swap, bringing in Tyson Empey for Fabian Wagner, as those two have been alternating games. Milic, riding high off his previous performance, got the nod in goal once more.
Moose Lineup:
- Shaw-Zhilkin-Di Giuseppe
- Fagemo-Ford-Duehr
- JAD-Yager-Chibrikov
- Barlow-Julien-Empey
Defense:
- Sautner-Bauer
- Phillips-Anhorn
- Clague-Barteaux
Goaltender:
- Milic
Game Highlights:
The shutout streak for Thomas Milic was impressive, lasting 134 minutes, but it came to an end in the first period due to a controversial call that could have been goalie interference. This ended Milic's streak and gave the Canucks an early 1-0 lead.
The Moose found themselves in penalty trouble early on, which is risky against one of the AHL's top penalty-killing units, especially on the road. Unfortunately, they conceded a rare power play goal, extending the Canucks' lead to 2-0.
Captain Mason Shaw brought Manitoba back into the game in the second period, netting his 15th goal of the season, tying him for the team lead. Walker Duehr provided a crucial screen in front, and the Moose capitalized on the power play.
After a clean hit, Tyson Empey was challenged and didn't shy away, delivering a strong response in the ensuing scuffle.
Samuel Fagemo nearly tied the game with a prime power play opportunity, but Ty Young made an outstanding save to keep the Canucks ahead.
In the final period, as Manitoba pushed for an equalizer, they got a bit too aggressive, allowing the home team to score their third goal. An empty-netter sealed the deal, giving the Canucks a definitive win.
Despite the loss, the Moose still hold a two-point edge over Texas for third place in the Central Division. However, they did lose one of their games in hand over the Stars, leaving them with just one remaining.
Looking Ahead:
The Moose will wrap up their road trip in Calgary, facing off against the Wranglers on Friday night.