The Manitoba Moose suffered a shootout loss to open their seven game road trip.
The Moose battled back from two goals down only to lose 3-2 in a shootout to the Milwaukee Admirals on Wednesday at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.
Justin Kirkland and Trevor Smith scored first period goals just 56 seconds apart to give the Admirals the early upper hand.
JC Lipon closed the gap in the middle frame with his 11th goal of the season and then Sami Niku scored midway through the third period to tie the game at two apiece.
Neither team could muster a goal in the overtime period but Kirkland and Frederick Gaudreau both scored in the shootout to give the Admirals the extra point.
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In making a second straight start in the Manitoba net, goalie Eric Comrie stopped 20 of the 22 shots he faced. The Moose outshot the Admirals 26-22.
It was a 10:30 am puck drop with over seven thousand school kids in attendance.
With his third period goal Niku now has 14 points in his last 15 games to lead all AHL defenceman in scoring with 42 points.
The Moose will now head to Chicago for the second stop of the road trip where they’ll face the Wolves on Saturday.
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