Moose lose 3-0 in Grand Rapids, force game 5 to settle series

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This article was published 26/04/2018 (3041 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba Moose and Grand Rapids Griffins will go the distance.

Trailing 2-1 in their American Hockey League first-round playoff series, the Griffins staved off elimination with a 3-0 victory Thursday night over the visiting Moose at Van Andel Arena.

After a three-day break, the fifth and deciding game goes Monday at 6 p.m. at the Griffins’ home barn.

Manitoba, the Winnipeg Jets’ AHL affiliate, was playing a near-perfect road game, allowing the defending Calder Cup champions relatively few quality scoring chances on goalie Eric Comrie through nearly two full periods.

All that changed with a couple of defensive miscues, paving the way for two quick tallies by Grand Rapids forwards Matthew Ford and Ben Street in the final 1:35 of the middle frame.

“We played really well. We made two mistakes and it’s part of the game — there are mistakes made on both side — but it cost us,” said Moose head coach Pascal Vincent, in a telephone interview. “Other than that, we worked hard, we played the right way, we were very disciplined and we stuck to our plan.”

Ford ripped his second goal of the series at 18:25 and Street supplied his fourth with just 20 seconds left in the period.

Brian Lashoff fired into an empty net late in the third period, his first goal of the postseason, to seal the win.

The Moose were handed four power-play opportunities but couldn’t solve Griffins goalie Jared Coreau. He handled all 25 shots he faced over 60 minutes for the shutout.

Vincent said his squad worked the puck into Grand Rapids’ territory effectively, particularly in the second period, but couldn’t connect.

“We were maybe guilty of not shooting enough. We were looking for that extra play,” he said. “But as far as work ethic and being engaged and paying the price to win a game in the playoffs, it was a great effort.”

Comrie stopped 21 drives in the Manitoba crease.

Sensational rookie forward Mason Appleton was absent from the Manitoba lineup for the second-straight night. He didn’t make the trip to Michigan after suffering an injury in Game 2 in Winnipeg when he took a head shot from Griffins forward Colin Campbell.

He’s doubtful for Game 5, Vincent said.

Campbell served a one-game suspension Wednesday night but returned to action Thursday.

The Moose were also missing forwards Michael Spacek and Buddy Robinson. Spacek was slapped with a three-game suspension earlier in the day for leaving the penalty box Wednesday night to join a line brawl. Robinson was serving the second of a two-game suspension.

“We had a short bench,” said Vincent. “The guys played hard. It’s tough, but I’m proud of our guys. We earned the right to play a Game 5.”

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell