Hutch comes up clutch for Moose in victory over Wolves

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This article was published 15/11/2017 (2965 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The starts haven’t come nearly as often as Michael Hutchinson would like, as he’s relegated to a back-up role on the farm only one season removed from being an NHL regular with the Winnipeg Jets.

But there’s no doubt the veteran goalie has made the most of his limited action. Hutchinson put on another terrific display Wednesday night, stopping 42 of 44 shots as the Manitoba Moose downed the Chicago Wolves 3-2.

Hutchinson has started just six of his team’s 16 games, but he’s managed to post an impressive 4-1-1 record with a stellar 2.33 goals-against average and .933 save percentage.

Eric Comrie is getting the majority of the work, considering he’s a big part of the Jets’ future while Hutchinson is essentially an insurance policy on an expiring contract.

“Hutch was really good and we needed that,” head coach Pascal Vincent said of the victory, which puts the Moose at 9-5-2 on the season. “What I ask, what I hope that he does, is to focus on his game, play well when he’s called upon and be a good teammate. And he’s been doing that. He’s been great around the team. He’s good in the room, so we have no issue with Hutch.”

Hutchinson has repeatedly refused interview requests since being sent down by the Jets following training camp, including following Wednesday’s win.

Manitoba was led offensively by Brendan Lemieux, fresh off an impressive seven-game stint with the Jets. Lemieux had a goal and an assist in his return to the Moose and was his usual ornery self in getting under the skin of several Wolves.

“A solid win. It was definitely pretty ugly in the first, but we turned it around. But yeah, it’s good to be back,” Lemieux said. “I need to play hockey. It’s the middle of the season. I can’t be sitting out for two, three weeks. So that’s kind of the way I’ve taken this. I’m not sure if that’s exactly the plan, but from what I understand it is.”

Chicago struck first just 1:16 into the game, as Stefan Matteau finished off a beautiful two-on-one rush for his first goal off the season. Matteau is the son of former NHLer Stephane Matteau and was a first-round pick, 29th overall of the New Jersey Devils in the 2012 draft. He signed with the Vegas Golden Knights last summer as a free agent, having played 56 career NHL games.

The Moose had their most loaded lineup of the year, one which included Lemieux, defenceman Tucker Poolman and forward Nic Petan, who have all dressed for the Jets this season.

But the talented group had trouble finding any cohesion early, as evident by a pair of power plays that couldn’t get out of first gear. In fact, on the second one, the Moose couldn’t gain the Wolves zone and barely touched the puck.

“I don’t think we found our legs the whole game,” Vincent said of his club, saying it was an expected sluggish start after a lengthy, six-game road trip. “It felt like the seventh game of the road trip,” he said.

When the fancy stuff isn’t working, sometimes it’s best to go back to basics. That’s exactly what JC Lipon did late in the period when he threw a puck on net that a hard-charging Peter Stoykewych knocked in to tie the game. It’s the third goal in 16 games for the Winnipeg-born defenceman, who has found his offensive touch after scoring just five times in 125 previous AHL games before this season.

“It’s really everybody out there. The forwards are getting us the puck down low and we’ve got the green light to jump in on plays that we see,” Stoykewych said.

The Moose were lucky to escape the opening frame tied up, considering they were soundly outplayed and outshot 14-7.

Manitoba came out stronger in the second period. Lemieux showed off his NHL-calibre shot when he ripped a wrist shot to the top corner past Chicago goalie Kasimir Kaskisuo to put his team ahead at 2:40. It was his fourth goal in five AHL games this season.

The Wolves tied it late in the frame as Matteau struck again, one-timing a shot through the pads of Hutchinson.

Back came the Moose, as their ugly power play finally came to life early in the third period. Lemieux fed defenceman Cameron Schilling, whose point shot was tipped in front by Mason Appleton. The rookie winger is off to a great start with the Moose, with three goals and eight assists through his first 16 pro games.

Hutchinson bailed out his team and kept them out front after a Sami Niku miscue led to a Chicago two on one. Hutchinson threw out a pad at the last second to keep the puck on the right side of the goal-line. He made several other big saves late in the third as the Wolves poured it on looking for the equalizer.

“Hutch was great. It helps us so much, everything he does. The knowledge he has of the game, putting us in the right place at the right time, the way he gets back on rimmed pucks, the way he controls his rebounds, the way he talks to us out there is huge for us,” Stoykewych said.

Manitoba continues their four-game homestand with a rematch against Chicago on Friday.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @mikemcintyrewpg