Moose Mess with Texas

Sports

WINNIPEG, MB – It’s been suggested that you don’t mess with Texas. The Manitoba Moose missed that memo.

On Wednesday night at H-E-B Centre in Cedar Park, Texas, six different Moose players scored as Manitoba walloped the Texas Stars 6-3.

With the win, the Moose improved to 37-17-4-4 and are now seven points ahead of second place Chicago in the race for first in the American Hockey League’s Central Division.

The offenses got going quickly in this one. Curtis McKenzie opened the scoring for Texas on a power play goal at 2:50 of the first period, but then the Moose scored three in a row. Jan Kostalek scored his third of the season from Nic Petan at 7:48; Kirill Gotovets scored his first of the year from Brody Sutter and JC Lipon at 8:18 and then Winnipeg’s own Peter Stoykewych scored his ninth of the year from Lipon and Chase De Leo at 12:39. All three goals were even strength tallies and all three goals were scored by defensemen.

However, McKenzie answered with his second of the game and 23rd of the season at 16:21 and the two teams went to the first break with the Moose ahead 3-2.

JC Lipon then scored his 12th of the year from De Leo and Brendan Lemieux on the power play at 12:13 of the second period and the score was 4-2 Manitoba after 40 minutes.

The Moose put the game away early in the third period when captain Patrice Cormier scored his 20th of the season from Lemieux and Buddy Robinson at 3:48 and Brett Welychka scored his first from Michael Spacek at 7:08.

Samuel Laberge scored for the Stars at 16:14 of the third period, but Texas was done at that point.

The Moose outshot the Stars 31-25, 13-4 in the second period when the Moose left Texas in the dust. Jamie Phillips made 22 saves to get the win and is now 4-4-1 this season.

The Moose play again on Friday night when they face the San Antonio Rampage at 7:30 p.m. CDT. The Moose return to Cedar Park, Tex., to face the Stars again on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Scott Taylor, Director of Sports – Manitoba Post

Photos by James Carey Lauder