JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — It wasn’t pretty hockey, but the Moose managed to salt away another two victories to up their record to 7-1 on the season. Both games were close-checking affairs between two teams that knew each other well, having both played twice previously last weekend in Colorado.
The Moose won Friday night 4-2 getting a team effort without leading scorer Drew Akins. Four different goal scorers lit the lamp and seven Moose players had at least one point. Nick Krauss was stellar in goal, stopping 28 of the 30 shots he faced, many of them dangerous opportunities from in close.
But the game was hard to watch. Neither team brought much energy and the building itself seemed flat. Few Moose players were bothered to skate a whole bunch in a lackluster 1st period that ended scoreless. No one was open and available for passes. Passes missed the mark or jumped off sticks when they got there.
Credit Vail for yielding little open ice. The Yeti skated well and surrendered virtually no odd-man rushes. They clogged passing lanes and used a de factor neutral zone trap to prevent the Moose from getting up ice with a head of steam. And Vail goalie Spencer Gold stopped everything he saw. Three of the 4 Moose goals were the result of rebounds or mad scrambles on front of the Yeti yet. Only one of the game’s 6 goals came at even strength—an indication that both teams knew the value of playing sound defense.
But the Moose were the better team if not an exciting one to watch, parlaying a 3-goal 2nd period into a 4-2 win after an empty-netter sealed the deal with 1:07 left in the third. Honestly, the band (Lazy Eyes) brought more energy.
Saturday night’s contest was another close game until the Moose eventually choked out the Yeti with 3 unanswered tallies in the final period. Still, a 6-1 final felt more like watching a boa constrictor slowly finish off a jackrabbit in a 90-minute National Geographic special.
AJ Sanders notched a hat trick for the Moose. Tom Hartnett (1G, 2A) and Brad Improta (1G, 2A) both had 3-point nights. Goaltender Krauss was not busy but stayed engaged to come up big saves when they were needed. He made 25 saves on 26 shots.
The Moose close out the year with a two-game set against the Yellow Jackets Hockey Club from Boulder, Colorado.
