Post by QC Mike on Apr 17, 2024 21:14:29 GMT -7
The Brandon Moose went into the Quad Cities Qualcomm Quonset Hut after a shocking sweep by the Bonavista Bruisers and were looking to get back to their winning ways in an effort to make the playoffs while the hometown Quarrymen were hoping to stop their slide and keep their slim playoff chances alive. The game started off as a spirited affair with plenty of back and forth action after a little pushing match less than a minute into the game. Charlie Coyle opened the account for the visitors when his snap shot beat Alexander Georgiev short sided at 5:36. The back and forth affair continued with Barclay Goodrow and Carson Soucey having an old fashioned throw down just before the the thirteen minute mark that really got the Hut a thumpin. Then just before the seventeen minute mark, shortly after an unsuccessful Q-Men power play, Michael Rasmussen caught J-G Pageau when he wasn't looking and it looked like a yard sale at center ice. Pageau was helped from the ice and did not return. This seemed to focus the attention of the Moose a little more intently as they went into the break up 1-0. The second saw an early marker from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins level the score and while Brandon held a slight territorial edge, neither side really troubled their opposite keeper and the second ended knotted at ones. The third saw two opposing game philosophies in play, quality versus quantity. The home side going for volume of shots while the visitors were looking for that perfect play. Again, it was a short lapse in concentration that cost Quad Cities. Right around the halfway mark, in just over two minutes, goals by Steven Stamkos, Casey Mittlestadt, and Blake Coleman powered the Moose to a 4-1 lead. A follow up lapse by Brandon thinking they had it in the bag let Quad Cities back into it. Goals by Claude Giroux (13:12) and Kevin Fiala (14:24) pulled the home side back within one and set up a scorching finish. With less than five minutes remaining Radim Simek caught Charlie McAvoy with a hip check that left McAvoy hobbling but able to continue. Then with Georgiev on the bench for an extra attacker, Elias Lindholm had a glorious chance but Jake Oettinger was able to beat it away and Brandon escaped with the 4-3 win.
Brandon 4 (8 chances on 33 shots) vs Quad Cities 3 (7 chances on 37 shots)
1. Coyle (BRM) - 1G, 1A, 2 chances on 4 shots
2. Lindholm (QCQ) - 2A, 1 chance on 3 shots
3. Mittlestadt (BRM) - 1G, 1A, 1 chance on 3 shots
The rematch in Brandon saw the Quarrymen come out listless as their slim playoff hopes were flickering and looking like last rites were needed. An early power play seemed to give them some life but spark soon faded and the one way traffic towards Alexander Georgiev's net started. Jeff Skinner scored a brace either side of the fourteen minute mark. Then Steven Stamkos potted one at the sixteen minute mark with an amazing individual effort from Alexander Barabanov at 17:12 put the home side up 4-0 after one. It seemed all over except for the fat lady. To start the second, Claude Giroux won the draw back to Cale Makar who hit a speeding Dylan Cozens and the Q-Men had clawed one back just ten seconds into it. To end his shift Cozens potted a second and there was some life on the Quad Cities bench. The Quarrymen continued to press the play and were finally rewarded at 15:36 of the second when Kevin Fiala tipped one past Oettinger to draw the visitors to within one. Just over a minute later, Nick Schmaltz's stick broke and JJ Moser was able to get in on a glorious chance but Georgiev managed to beat it away to keep Quad Ciities in it, down 4-3 after two. The Q-Men looked to ride the momentum through into the third but just over a minute in after some scrambley play at center ice, Michael Amadio found himself alone with the puck in front of Georgiev and double the Moose lead, 5-3 Brandon. The home side was able to lock things down from there and even with Georgiev on the pine for an extra attacker the Quarrymen weren't able to muster up and offense as Brandon ran out the clock and skated to the win, 5-3.
Quad Cities 3 (6 chances on 36 shots) vs Brandon 5 (9 chances on 38 shots)
1. Skinner (BRM) - 2G, 2 chances on 4 shots
2. Cozens (QCQ) - 2G, 2 chances on 6 shots
3. Beniers (BRM) - 2A, 1 shot