An early third-period push by the Manitoba Moose wasn’t enough as they lost 3-2 after Chicago scored with 55 seconds left in the game.
Rivalries were renewed between the Wolves and Moose as both teams got off to a fast-paced and hard-hitting start.
It seemed as if things were going to break open early as Mason Shaw scored 58 seconds into the game, but after the officials reviewed the play, the call was overturned.
As Shaw poked at Wolves goaltender Spencer Martin, the puck got into the back of the net. Martin immediately argued the play that his gloves were pushed into the net, which was part of the reason the officials reviewed the play.
Just minutes later, Domenick Fensore took advantage of a miscue by the Moose and beat Domenic DiVincentiis up high. A momentum shift was needed as Chicago was all over the Manitoba attackers.
Yanick Turcotte and Tyson Empey wouldn’t waste time and dropped the gloves nearly six and a half minutes into the game in a heavyweight fight.
To close the first period, both teams took turns on the power play. Neither team gained more ground, but Chicago wrapped up the first 20 minutes up by one goal.
1:46 into the second period, Ryan Suzuki extended Chicago’s lead to two goals. After DiVincentiis made a few consecutive saves after a giveaway in the neutral zone, followed by a missed hit. Ultimately, on the third shot, Suzuki picked up the loose puck but soon lost his balance and nearly took a nasty fall, but fell lightly forward and immediately celebrated with a belly-down snow angel.
The second period was far cleaner than the first, with only Mark Liwiski and Yanick Turcotte taking offsetting roughing minor penalties.
The Moose entered the third period down two goals, and the nearly 5300 crowd at the Canada Life Centre were ready with a loud “we want pancakes” chant.
Mason Shaw opened the scoring 42 seconds into the third period to cut the lead in half. Shaw was ready for the puck to be dropped for the next play as he barely celebrated his goal.
Just 1:14 later, Liam Malmquist scored his first professional hockey goal. The play went to a review for a possible kicking motion, and even Wolves goaltender Martin argued about a kicking motion.
Ultimately, the referees decided that Malmquist’s goal was good, and the Moose were tied with Chicago.
After the tying goal, the Moose fell back to a bad habit they picked up in the Laval series and the first game of this series by playing a highly undisciplined game. The Moose would take three consecutive penalties in the final 11:19 of the game.
Brad Lambert’s hooking call was enough for the Wolves as they relied on the third time being the charm in the dying minutes of the game. Nick Swaney scored the game-winning goal for the Wolves to end the season series against the Moose.
The Manitoba Moose close their regular season home schedule against the Iowa Wild with a pair of games on April 11th and 12th.
ITR 32: The Final Countdown – Inside The Rink
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