REEL

Moose 4 Rivermen 3

FIRST PERIOD

Lots of action but no scoring. Manitoba's Zach FitzGerald squares off with Peoria's Eric Neilson and we give the edge to the Rivermen slugger. Peoria loves to hit and play a physical game in their smallish barn. Playing their third game in three nights, Manitoba's will is under fire.

Moose 0 Rivermen 0

SECOND PERIOD

Manitoba explodes for three second-period goals with Michael Grabner scoring a pair and Jason Krog adding a single. With the Moose lighting the scoreboard, goalie Karl Goehring makes sure Peoria can't keep pace, making a number of brilliant saves. No. 1 man Cory Schneider had won three in a row in the Moose net and Goehring doesn't let the level slip as he shines in his first start since a loss at home last week.

Moose 3 Rivermen 0

THIRD PERIOD

The Rivermen storm out of the gate and beat Goehring on the power play just three minutes into the third period as Jonathan Fillewich scores from the high slot. Steve Wagner follows up with another Peoria goal and it's 3-2 with over half a period to play. Hang on for dear life time. Jason Jaffray scores into the empty net and then Peoria scores with seven seconds left to make it tight, but too late.

Moose 4 Rivermen 3

ICE CHIPS

Earning his keep

Moose equipment manager Jason McMaster goes about his business with a quiet efficiency but don't be fooled by his demeanour, he's on the ball and connected.

McMaster learned late Saturday night that Jason Jaffray's equipment had been lost somewhere along the trip from Vancouver to Peoria and wouldn't reach Illinois until sometime Sunday evening, too late for Jaffray to be in the lineup. McMaster worked his BlackBerry during the team's bus ride from Des Moines to Peoria late Saturday night in an attempt to have it re-routed to Chicago and then over to Peoria but was still unsure of when the skates, sticks and assorted padding would arrive.

Despite all the equipment manager's hard work, the gear had not arrived at Carver Arena when the Moose arrived prior to the game. Jaffray was seated in the press box as warm-up began when his cellphone rang.

He ditched his chicken fingers and fries and bolted downstairs and began to loosen up off ice and was able to get into his gear in time for game time. McMaster's efforts paid off with Jaffray eventually scoring the winner.

Tight schedule

The Moose were scheduled to bus over to Chicago on Sunday night and then fly to Winnipeg early Monday morning before hosting the Milwaukee Admirals on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The it's back on the road for five games beginning in Grand Rapids on Friday night. The Moose will play 16 games in the month of January, their busiest stretch of the season.

In and out

Moose defenceman Zach FitzGerald was back in on Sunday as was winger Jason Jaffray after his return from the Vancouver Canucks.

Healthy scratches were defencemen Andrew Martens and Danny Rahimi as well as forwards Raymond Sawada, Tim Spencer, Dirk Southern, Mark Derlago and Mario Bliznak.

Up next

Milwaukee Admirals at Moose, MTS Centre, Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.

-- Lawless

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 12, 2009 C3