The Pack Bites Back

The boys are back in the fight! Something finally clicked, at least for now, and the Maulers turned everything around on the Moose and beat them with the exact same score as on the 17th. It is wonderful to see the boys' spirits lifted by this miraculous win and seeing what they can accomplish when they really put their minds to the game. Using the mentality of a wolf pack, you bite the wolf and the entire pack bites back. If the team can just keep this cycle up and keep forcing wins like they did last night, they are set on a comfortable road to round out the season on. The trick is keeping it up though. I am proud of the boys for winning the second game of the Salt Lake City vs. Missoula series and now it is anybody's game. If the Missoula boys can prove what they are worth against the Moose then they are one step in the right direction for a playoff spot. For many of the guys on the Zoo Town team, this is their first year of junior hockey and they are finally finding their feet after many victories and down falls. You can almost start seeing the bonds of a team starting to show which is important because if there isn't a sold core unit they can all depend on the team will crumble. Hopefully they will win the 3rd and final game of the trying series in Utah and head on to their next trial with heads held high. Stay together boys because sometimes at the lowest points, that's all you can rely on.

There was no scoring in the first period so 0-0 at the end of the first 20 minutes.

Newcomer to this season but vet from last year Jordan Wheatly opened the scoring for everyone at 1:33 into the second period. Edward Pollon and Tanner Todd were there to help him out. #17 Cole Corson got his Moose on the board with another early goal at 5:34. His team mates #3 Jacob McMullen and #13 Brett Meyer received apples for that play. Austin Auzzinnaro had a beautiful goal at 8:23 when he led the Maulers to a 2-1 lead halfway through the second. Todd and Pollon each chipped in an assist. Erich Jaeger closed the scoring out for the second period with a goal at 14:27 assisted by Max Rebholz.

The Maulers once again started off the scoring for the period. This time it was from the blade of Nikita Sheptytskyy at 4:38 with a little support on the power play from Corey Schafer and Derek Griffin. Pat Dwyer scored the last goal of the game for the Moose at 6:22 with a final apple for #19 Jurijs Moiseicenko. The lamp was lit at 9:00 in the third by none other than superstar himself Erich Jaeger assisted by captain Anders Nord.

January 19th is the third game of the series with an early puck drop of 12:05 pm so make sure you don't miss this lunch time hockey matinee!

(I have been watching Miracle quite often lately if you couldn't tell)

Statistics:

PENALTIES:

Period 1:

Salt Lake City - Tyler Keturi (Roughing) 2 Minutes, 8:36

Missoula Maulers - Anders Nord (Delay of Game) 2 Minutes, 12:00

Missoula Maulers - Erich Jaeger (High Sticking) 2 Minutes, 16:35

Period 2:

Salt Lake City - Nick Luitgaarden (Slashing) 2 Minutes, 6:24

Missoula Maulers - John Andersson (Interference) 2 Minutes, 12:18

Period 3:

Salt Lake City - Cole Corson (Slashing) 2 Minutes, 2:40

Salt Lake City - Alex Pommerville (Slashing) 2 Minutes, 9:00

Salt Lake City - Bryan Giorgi (Hooking) 2 Minutes, 13:26

Salt Lake City - Bryan Giorgi (Roughing) 2 Minutes, 13:26

Salt Lake City - David Barnes (Elbowing) (Major) 5 Minutes, 18:20

Salt Lake City - David Barnes (Elbowing) (Game Misconduct) 10 Minutes, 18:20

SHOTS ON GOAL:

Missoula Maulers - 31 total

Salt Lake City Moose - 41 total

POWER PLAYS:

Missoula Maulers - 1 for 7

Salt Lake City Moose - 0 for 3

GOALTENDERS:

#30 Michael Mcdaniel for Missoula Maulers: 60 Minutes played, 41 shots on goal 39 saves

#31 Brad Robertson for Salt Lake City Moose: 60 Minutes played, 31 shots on goal 26 saves