Manitoba Moose vs San Diego Gulls 10 28

Scott Kosmachuk’s goal one thirty one into overtime gave the Manitoba Moose a 3-2 victory over the San Diego Gulls on Friday night at MTS Centre in Winnipeg. Kosmachuk finished a two-on-one rush during three-on-three play in the extra period, backhanding a pass from Chase De Leo over the shoulder of Gulls goalie Kevin Boyle, who made 27 saves in his AHL debut. Stefan Noesen and Corey Tropp scored goals for San Diego, who secured a point in their first-ever visit to Canada. The Moose and Gulls will play again on Saturday night before meeting twice in San Diego in two weeks over Veterans Day weekend (Nov. 11-12). Jumping in front for the third time in five games this season, San Diego controlled play throughout the first half of the opening period. Noesen’s wrist shot from right wing, taken after a faceoff win in the offensive zone, slid through traffic and underneath Moose goalie Eric Comrie to give the Gulls a 1-0 lead at seven zero eight, with assists going to Ondrej Kase and Nate Guenin. The Moose answered back seconds after a power play expired later in the period, with Brendan Lemieux springing Quinton Howden free in the near corner for a walkout attempt. Howden pulled the puck inside the near post on Boyle for his team-leading fourth goal of the season, knotting the game at one thirteen fourteen into the first. The lone goal of the second period came on a Gulls power play, as Schultz’s wrist shot from the left point found Corey Tropp in the low slot. San Diego’s leading scorer tipped the point shot between his legs and behind Comrie for his third goal and ninth point of the young campaign, lifting the Gulls to a 2-1 lead at fourteen twenty one. San Diego killed a Manitoba penalty split between the second intermission and carried their one-goal lead into the final frame. Tropp currently ranks tied for second among league leaders in points, and leads all skaters (minimum four games) with 1.8 points-per game. An elbowing penalty on Manitoba’s Ryan Olsen gave the Gulls a power play opportunity midway through the third period, but despite four shots on net San Diego could not find a comfort-seeking third goal. When the Moose were awarded a power play after the Gulls got caught with too many men on the ice, Manitoba was able to convert. Kosmachuk’s curling drive from outside the left circle was left loose behind Boyle on the rebound. Julian Melchiori was able to slide the puck from near post to far, where De Leo had two taps at it before settling home his first goal of the year, good for a 2-2 tie at twelve thirty six. The Gulls had to hang on through a rough stretch late in the third period, killing three straight icing calls with tired legs before then having to kill a Tropp tripping penalty with two o eight left in regulation. San Diego was able to hang on and levied one shot during overtime before losing the puck in their offensive zone, leading to the De Leo-Kosmachuk tandem rush and the eventual game-winner.