WINNIPEG – It was Manitoba Moose throwback day as they turned back the clock to 1996 but the Moose looked a little too much like that last place team from two decades ago.
The Moose once again let a win slip through their fingers, blowing an early two goal first period lead in suffering a 3-2 overtime loss to the Chicago Wolves on Saturday afternoon. It was the second straight game the Moose lost after the end of regulation time but they once again salvage a single point.
“I thought the second period they came out with a real strong push and we stopped skating.” Moose head coach Keith McCambridge said. “We stopped moving our feet. I thought it was going to be an easier game than it actually was and then they climbed back in the game in the second.”
Eric Comrie started in goal for Manitoba and stopped 35 of 38 shots. Both Moose goals were scored on the powerplay with John Albert and Chase De Leo finding the score sheet. The Moose finished the game 2-for-4 on the man advantage.
“Tough pill to swallow” said De Leo. “I don’t take losing very easily but the sun comes up tomorrow and the good thing is we got a rematch tomorrow. I know people say kinda just forget after 20 minutes. I’m the type of guy that it sticks with me. I can never forget losses.”
The Moose opened the scoring eight minutes into the game. Austen Brassard made a perfect pass to leave John Albert wide alone in the slot. He fired it past Jordan Binnington for his eighth goal of the season and the one goal Moose lead. JC Lipon also picked up an assist.
The Moose added another goal in the periods final minute while on a 5-on-3 man advantage. Binnington made the first stop but De Leo batted it in out of mid-air. De Leo’s 14th goal of the campaign was assisted by Matt Fraser and Brenden Kichton.
The Moose two lead would stand until nearly the midway point of the second. Comrie made a sprawling save but Jacob Doty was right there to swat in the loose puck.
Not even two minutes later the Wolves tied it up. Danny Kristo went cross ice to Pat Cannone who buried the one-timer behind Comrie. It was his 17th goal of the season and the Wolves had erased a two goal deficit.
Five minutes into the third period Ryan Olsen pounced on a turnover at the blueline and skates in on the breakaway. But he fired the puck right into Binnington’s trapper and it remained 2-2.
Patrice Cormier appeared to score the go ahead goal with three minutes remaining. But the net had come off the moorings only moments earlier and the goal was disallowed.
It was tied after 60 minutes and then just 3:13 into overtime Kristo fired it past the glove of Comrie for the game winning goal.
It was one of the best attended games of the season for the Moose. The upper bowl was partially open at MTS Centre with an announced attendance of 9,249.
The Moose close out their six game homestand with the rematch against the Wolves on Sunday starting at 2:00pm. Connor Hellebuyck will start in goal for Manitoba after getting re-assigned by the Winnipeg Jets.
WATCH: McCambridge and Moose players react following a 3-2 overtime loss to the Wolves.
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