JACKSON HOLE, WYO – The Jackson Hole Moose took care of business this weekend with another sweep of a division rival. The hometowners took Friday’s contest by a score of 5-1 over the Vail Yeti. Saturday’s final was Moose 4, Yeti 1.
It was Vail who scored first Friday night and took a 1-0 lead to the locker room. But things unraveled for the ‘green machine’ when their starting goaltender left the game with an ankle injury in the second period. The floodgates opened. The Moose tallied four times in the second frame to cruise to a 5-1 victory on the strength of a Kyle Krauss hat trick (a natural). The ‘Krauss Kombo’ was all that was needed Friday, as Kyle finished with a four-point night and brother Nick, the Moose goaltender, was extremely sharp after surrendering the Yeti’s first and only goal.
Kyle Krauss still wasn’t done Saturday, as the Moose road his hot hand for the game’s first goal the following night. AJ Sanders added a pair of his own and blueliner Kristian Ophus provided two helpers.
The Yeti were young and quick, but didn’t quite have the horses to stay with Jackson.
The Moose blueliners, in particular (even without Goss-Woliner Saturday), have gelled into a solid group of offensive-minded rearguards who push the play, and stable stay-at-home bangers who rarely get caught out of position.
Newcomer Sage Welch (2) has already added to the team’s offensive attack, while Chase Wharton (18) and Kristian Ophus (16) have been outstanding in their pwn zone. And the team’s best D-man, Brad Improta, has yet to return from injury.
Next up for the Moose is a homestand against the Denver Leafs on Dec. 1-2 in a non-league contest. Jackson Hole is now 4-0 on the season.
