the 4th star

Seeing how my Star Trek transporter is still in the shop, any sort of coverage I give of the Manitoba Moose-Hershey Bears series will be of a limited variety. Checking out all the Calder Cup final games just isn’t in my future. So with that travel obstacle reality in the way, I’ve decided to provide a re-hash of last night’s action by looking at what the local media are saying about the game and where the series is headed.

Game 1: Hershey 5 Manitoba 4 (OT)

Despite the positive spin of the head and sub-headline, too many turnovers, according to Moose head coach Scott Arniel. Alexandre Giroux showed why he’s the league MVP this season, scoring a hat-trick and the OT winner. On that note, the Moose can’t get into a run and gun game with the Bears. Hershey coach Bob Woods says no lead is safe against his club. Meanwhile, a former Moose coach brought his AHL post season magic to the barn last night.

Sure, it’s just one game, but it was a blown opportunity by the Moose — no matter how you slice it. Arniel says his team made four turnovers in the first period and then 15 in the second, but his team still had a 3-1 lead going into the third. You need to hold serve when you gain an advantage like that. Turning point of the game might have been the penalty shot stop by Hershey goaltender Michal Neuvirth in the second period. Had Matt Pope scored there, that would have made it 4-1 Moose and the Bears might have been looking ahead to Game 2.

When is Game 2, you ask? Tuesday, 7:30 pm, at MTS Centre. It will be a party (sub).

Photo, Manitoba Moose