WINNIPEG – Just hours after getting sent down to the Manitoba Moose for a conditioning stint, Winnipeg Jets defenceman Paul Postma scored one goal in his Moose debut in a 7-3 defeat to the Lake Erie Monsters.
Playing in his first game since November 7 Postma played a regular shift and saw time on both the powerplay and the penalty kill. He finished the game with one goal, five shots and he was a minus-2.
“Honestly it’s just nice to be playing hockey again.” Postma said. “Haven’t played in awhile, so a little rusty, the timing is a bit off. This league is a little different than the one up top but regardless it’s just nice to be back in the lineup and playing again.”
Matt Halischuk and Jiri Fronk also scored for the Moose in suffering a third straight loss. Eric Comrie allowed five goals on 26 shots before getting pulled midway through the third period.
“I thought on our side it was just the turnovers.” Moose head coach Keith McCambridge said. “I thought we had some turnovers in some areas of the ice that you can’t give the opposition regardless of who you’re playing the puck. That game was there for the taking on both sides to start and we gave them too many opportunities with turnover pucks.”
“We talked about turnovers after the first period.” said Halischuk. “I think we turned a couple too many pucks over in the first. I think when we’re successful we’re getting pucks through and using our speed and size to get down in the O-zone. I just don’t think we unfortunately got enough of that tonight but hopefully we can get back on Wednesday and get back on track.”
Lake Erie opened the scoring with 5:29 left in the first period. Comrie made the initial save but the puck sat right behind him and Trent Vogelhuber swept it in for his sixth goal of the season. Michael Chaput had the only assist.
Get breaking National news
The Moose tied it up with just 15.9 seconds remaining in the first. John Albert threw the puck in front of the net and Halischuk re-directed it past Brad Thiessen. His fourth goal of the season made it 1-1 through one period with the shots 12-7 in favour of the Monsters.
The game remained tied until midway through the second period when Chaput tipped in the centring pass from Sonny Milano. Chaput’s eighth goal of the season had the Monsters ahead 2-1.
With just 1:46 left in the second period the Monsters added an insurance goal. It was a mad scramble in the Moose zone after the Monsters just missed scoring. Then the puck came back to the blueline to Lukas Sedlak for the blast and his long shot was tipped in by Daniel Zaar. His 10th goal of the season had Lake Erie with a 3-1 lead after 40 minutes. The Monsters outshot the Moose 12-8 in the middle stanza.
Just over three minutes into the final frame Oliver Bjorkstrand made a pretty play to set up Milano who had the tap in into the wide open net. His fifth goal of the season made it a three goal Monsters advantage.
Then just a minute later Lake Erie struck again. Jamie Sifers’ point shot was tipped in by former Brandon Wheat Kings captain Ryan Craig. His ninth goal of the season chased Comrie from the game as Jussi Olkinuora came on in relief with the score 5-1. It was Olkinuora’s first appearance in a game since December 6.
The Moose soon went on the powerplay and the newcomer Postma blasted it in from the blueline for his first goal with the new team.
But they hadn’t even finished announcing the goal when Joe Devin shoveled the rebound past Olkinuora just 29 seconds later to restore the Monsters four goal lead.
Only 11 seconds after that goal though, Jiri Fronk pounced on the rebound and swept it behind Thiessen for his third goal of the season. But the Moose couldn’t get any closer as Devin scored into the empty net to seal a 7-3 Monsters victory.
The Moose close out their eight game homestand with the rematch against the Monsters on Wednesday night.
WATCH: Moose head coach Keith McCambridge and players Paul Postma and Matt Halischuk discuss the Moose loss
Comments