Moose best San Jose 5-2, close 2017 atop AHL standings

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This article was published 31/12/2017 (2929 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It appears the Manitoba Moose don’t handle losing very well. And that’s a good trait to have for a team that has grown accustomed to being on the right side of the scoreboard.

Chase De Leo potted a pair of goals Sunday afternoon as a snarly Moose squad rang in the New Year with a 5-2 win over the San Jose Barracuda before a season-high 9,866 fans at Bell MTS Place. It was a strong reply from Manitoba, which had its franchise-record streak of 16 games without a regulation loss snapped on Saturday in a 3-2 defeat to the same San Jose team.

De Leo said a pre-game team meeting with coach Pascal Vincent reinforced just how high the expectations are around these parts.

“After the meeting we had, we almost had to look back at the standings, it was almost as if we were in last place again after losing one game,” said De Leo. “I think that’s the mentality you need to have. I think it’s a championship mentality.

“We have a special group here, obviously. It was nice to get a little nip in the bud, I think it’s important every once in a while. Just to stay even-keel. Not get too high, not get too low. It was a good revenge game.”

Manitoba finishes up the 2017 part of their schedule with a 24-6-3 record, which puts them on top of the American Hockey League Standings.

“We just talked about a few things we need to do better, and the guys responded well,” Vincent said when asked what his message had been to his troops.

The Moose showed plenty of jump early Sunday, as they seemed determined not to let a one-game losing streak go any further. After some solid work on the forecheck drew a penalty, rookie Michael Spacek opened the scoring just over four minutes into the game with a big one-timer from the point. It’s the fifth goal of the year for Spacek, who has been promoted to centering the top line with the Moose following Jack Roslovic’s call-up with the Jets. Brendan Lemieux and rookie defenceman Sami Niku drew the assists on the goal.

“I’m just trying to play simple,” Spacek said of his increased opportunity. “Of course I’m great to play with Nic Petan, he’s a great player. And Mason (Appleton), he’s a really good player too. I play hard and am happy to be there.”

De Leo made it 2-0 just past the midway point of the period, converting a great pass from linemate Mike Sgarbossa.

The Moose were on their heels a bit on the second as San Jose mounted a charge. Brandon Mashinter cut the lead in half when his shot from the side wall somehow got through the pads of Michael Hutchinson. The net came off in the process, courtesy of Hutchinson, and officials reviewed the goal for a few minutes before ultimately allowing it.

Hutchinson was irate, skating nearly to centre to protest and continuing to argue with officials. The Barracuda then tied it up a couple minutes later as Adam Helewka was left all alone in front of the Moose net and slid the puck through Hutchinson’s legs.

But then De Leo got some momentum back for the Moose, one-timing a pass from Buddy Robinson with the Moose enjoying a power play.

De Leo was selected in the fourth round of the 2014 draft by the Winnipeg Jets. The former Portland Winterhawk scored 19 goals in his rookie season with the Moose, which included a pair of games with the Jets. He followed that up with 14 goals last season, and appears poised to break that mark this year as he’s now up to eight goals.

Robinson extended the lead just 32 seconds into the final period, deflecting a Peter Stoykewych point shot for his 13th goal of the season.

“Losing doesn’t sit well with us right now. We’re feeling pretty good about our game and I’m really proud of our team and the way we responded,” said Robinson.

Tempers boiled over as the game wore on, as the two teams apparently grew tired of spending the weekend together. Officials dished out a total of 84 minutes in penalties Sunday, with the majority coming in the final frame.

“Our power play is pretty good. If teams want to play that kind of game against us, I think we’ll finish on the right side of the games,” Vincent said.

Petan finished off the scoring late in the third as the Moose had a two-man advantage. De Leo and Spacek had the assists on Petan’s seventh of the season. It was the third power play goal of the game for Manitoba, which came into the contest with the No. 2 ranked power play in the league. They went 3-for-12 on the day.

“I think you almost have to hate to lose more than you like to win,” De Leo said of how his team responded to adversity. “Hopefully just keep going in the right direction. Obviously there’s a lot of season left and it just keeps getting harder and harder. But I think if we keep playing the way we did (Sunday) we’ll be alright.”

Coach Pascal Vincent shuffled his lineup a bit Sunday. Forward Brody Sutter replaced rookie Jansen Harkins in the lineup, while defenceman Jan Kostalek dressed in place of Charles-David Beaudoin.

Meanwhile, Hutchinson stopped 21 of 23 shots he faced to improve his personal record to 14-2-2. Jamie Phillips, up from the ECHL, dressed again as the backup as Eric Comrie remains day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.

Manitoba returns to action Friday in Chicago.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg