Stefan Matteau collected two goals but it was not enough as the Manitoba Moose crept by the Chicago Wolves 3-2 Wednesday night at Bell MTS Place.
The Wolves (4-8-1-0) netted their quickest goal of the year — just 1:16 into the first period — when Paul Thompson rushed up the left wing and zipped a shot to Matteau in the slot. Matteau accepted the pass on his forehand and went to his backhand for the 1-0 lead.
However, with less than five minutes to play in the period, Manitoba (9-5-1-1) netted the equalizer. On the rush, J.C. Lipon fed Peter Stoykewych and he crashed the net to tie the game 1-1.
Just 2:40 into the second period, Brendan Lemieux lasered a shot past Kasimir Kaskisuo (2-5-0) for the go-ahead goal just after a Wolves power play expired.
The Wolves tied the game at 15:23 when Matteau snapped a shot from the top of the left circle that found twine.
In the third frame, Manitoba again scored in the opening five minutes as Mason Appleton redirected a shot past Kaskisuo while moving laterally through the slot. That power-play marker held up as the 3-2 game-winner.
Moose goaltender Michael Hutchinson (4-1-1) made 42 saves for the victory while Chicago’s Kaskisuo turned aside 28 shots in the loss.
The Wolves and Moose play the second of a two-game set at Bell MTS Place Friday, Nov. 17. Puck drop is 7 p.m. and the game will stream on AHLLive.com.
