WINNIPEG, MB. – The first game of 2018 for the Manitoba Moose needed overtime to decide a winner, but didn’t end in their favour.

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Chicago opened the scoring midway through the first period on the power play. The Moose had their chances in the first, but Max Lagace kept Chicago in front. Later in the period, the Wolves go a penalty shot with eight seconds left and Pirri took advantage of it, scoring his second of the night.

Manitoba finally got back within a goal but it was late in the second period. Buddy Robinson broke away and buried his 14th of the season behind Lagace. They end the second with the score 2-1 for Chicago.

It was a busy third period with a number of penalties, on one power-play Brandon Pirri scored for the hat-trick to restore Chicago’s two-goal lead. Looking to cut into the Chicago advantage, the Moose called Michael Hutchinson to the bench with 3:30 to go in the contest and the gamble paid off. After the Moose won the faceoff, a scramble ensued in front of the Chicago net and Robinson shoveled in his second of the game. With 33 seconds left on the board, Manitoba was awarded a power play, giving them a six-on-four advantage. Racing up the ice, Cameron Schilling got a shot on net and Robinson was there again to jam in the tying goal with 1.2 seconds left on the board, forcing overtime with the hat-trick goal.

The overtime period only lasted 49 seconds as Teemu Pulkkinen blasted a slap shot in off the post to give the Wolves a 4-3 victory.

David Marshal, Manitoba Post with files from Manitoba Moose

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