Good open ended play so far with the Moose, almost a continuation of the Finland/Sweden game from earlier. Going to suck when things slow down for the Canucks game.

First Period

Michael Grabner dances into the offensive zone, firing the puck towards the Stars goaltender. Rosa surfs in on a wave of mutilation and pots the rebound. 1-0 Moose. Grabner skating well out there.

Apparently the REFEREE wasn’t out on the ice for the first 2 minutes of the game as the Ref didn’t have his equipment. Keep in mind that the AHL only goes with 1 ref per game, so the opening action to this game was being called entirely by the linesmen.

Oh wow. Stars respond in rapid fashion, as Sceivor(SP) darts in behind the Moose defenders and rifles one past Schneider to tie things up. 1-1 all.

Rosa looking real good so far tonight, just muscled his way to the front of the net with a good chance. Grabner reading the play well and was hunting for a rebound.

Collins get plastered by a Stars defender. Maxwell goes for the hit, while Walsky, wearing Rypien’s old #37, gets the puck and has a couple of decent moves to keep the puck away from the Stars.

LABRIE with a hit of his own. Things are getting physical.

Moose have certainly been enjoying the most pressure in this game so far and have the edge in scoring opportunities, I’d say.

OH WOW! Fabian Brunnstrom with a heavy shot on Schneider, who absorbs the shot, but it begins trickling towards the goal line. Schneider sees it and dives on it just before it trickles in.

Stars commentator is going on about how the temp is supposed to be getting to -20 F. Welcome to Canada.

Cory interfered with by the Stars, as he takes a tumble. Luke Gazoic to sit for 2 or less as the Moose go to the powerplay.

This Stars commentator is trying his damnedest to keep things topical for fans, but failing. ‘Winnipeg, of course, is where Brett Hull played for the WHA Winnipeg Jets.’ Really? (Hey, I may be bad with numbers, but I know my hockey history)

Moose with some great pressure on this PP. Shirokov looking shifty out there along the halfboards, he and Oberg doing a great job at moving the puck around, hunting for an opportunity.

Salcido finally gets a shot off, nothing doing, though. Good control from the Moose PP, though.

I really, really hope the guys with the Moonucks jerseys are back in the building tonight. I want to get a shot of them. Anyway…

Brunnstrom looking good out there for the Stars. He’s been able to gain the zone rather easily so far in the first. Dishes it to Fortunus who shoots, but Schneider’s all ’sod off.’

Things evening out a bit now, as the Stars have gotten a couple of good opportunities.

Matt Pope now with a shot on net as the Moose and Stars trade scoring chances.

OOOO, Walsky dances in, shoots with a great opportunity. I’ve got a theory about both him and Oberg, which I’ll elaborate in a future blog post (soon, hopefully.)

Stars come back with a ‘meh’ chance of their own. Moose come right bac-wait, nevermind. Maxwell skates in all alone as his mates change.

Liking Mario Bliznak. He hasn’t really been doing anything of note, but he’s working hard and forechecking well.

Sawada throws Shirokov (I think?) into the boards and gets 2 minutes for boarding. Not sure who it was, but they were okay afterwards. Moose back to the PP.

First unit PP not looking that great. Second unit PP, which has Shiro/Oberg, though, looking a lot better this time around.

And Bliznak with a shot that causes a scramble in front of the Stars net. Pretty sure that would’ve been a goal had it been anyone but LABRIE sitting in front out there.

And that ends it for the first!

Second Period

Second period is go!

Outlet pass for the Stars leads to a 2 on 1 for them. Schneider sticks with the play and gives them nothing…although he got a bit of help as Peters is obstructed. Stars to the PP for their first of the game.

Moose stuck in their own end for first 40 seconds but do a good job at limiting Stars chances. Desbiens breaks his stick but manages to clear the puck down from the neutral zone to the Stars end with his skate.

PP is almost over, best chance was a slapshot from the blueline that Schneider saw all the way.

Penalty over, 2 on 1 and Desbiens with a great wrister. Still a tie game, though!

Shirokov sure likes having the puck along the sideboards. Looks like that’s where he’s most comfortable, as he does some more wheeling and dealing. Nothing doing, though.

Walsky showing good poise out there in the offensive end, as he has some deft stickhandling to avoid Stars defenders and keep the puck alive. Would like to see some offensive flashes from him, but all in good time, I’m sure. (Although it’s been a rather LONG time for him…)

Looks like no Moonuck jerseys in the crowd tonight. Boo.

WAUGH’s been quiet so far tonight. I want more WAUGH.

Sidenote: McIver’s been playing a simple, decent game. Good to know, given that he’s next in line for a callup if there’s anymore injuries to the Canucks.

OH MY STARS AND GARTERS! Bliznak forces Stars goalie to be on his toes as he tries to capitalize on a rebound. Great post to post effort from Climie (SP) though!

Shirokov working his magic along the boards again, feeding Grabner right in the slot on a beautiful one timer…which goes wide. I hate how anti-climatic the Moose are making this, har.

Wilson with a rebound chance but is DENIED by Schneider.

Phrases that need to go away: ‘Rimming it.’ I’ll say no more.

DANGIT. Travis Morin scores on a redirect from Landon Wilson. GREAT goal, but it puts the Stars up 2-1 over the Moose in the sandwich stanza.

Things starting to go from bad to worse, as the Moose are to the PK now. Lukowich with a great shot from the point. Good to see him playing well. Hopefully Gillis will be able to finagle him up onto the roster after the trade deadline.

Hutchinson nullifies the Stars man advantage with a weaker version of Phaneuf’s bonehead penalty last night. 2 players racing for the puck on a waived off icing call, Desbiens gets shoved into the boards by Hutchinson. Desbiens is all bien, though.

WAUGH holds the line as the Moose gain the zone 4 on 4, dishes it to Salcido who scores WITH A BULLET to make it 2-2! How Salcido it is!

Moose now get a PP to work with. Nothing doing, though.

Loving this game so far.

Shirokov and Grabner working well together. Shirokov passes, Grabner shoots. Some nice pressure and cycling from them keeping the Stars hemmed in. Nothing doing as the Stars clear it…

…BUT Grabner comes right back and blasts it for his 6th of the year and putting the Moose up 3-2.

Third Period

And the third period is go!

Missed the first 2 minutes due to a phone call. Gotta arrange NYE plans. I’m a multitasking fiend…

Brunnstrom continues to be a menace and arguably the Stars best player. Another nice cycle and opporunity for his line. Only talking about him because the Canucks ‘almost’ got him back when Nonis was around.

Moose seem to be playing a little more conservative now that it’s the third and they have the lead. Only a lone forechecker out there challenging in the neutral zone.

In case you didn’t pick up, it means that this third period has been dull…I guess this is a good way to ease me into the Blues/Canucks game.

Moose with a successful penalty kill. They aren’t giving the Stars a whole lot here. Then again, they aren’t really trying to do much of anything themselves.

Schneider with a nice diving save, denying Sawada.

Dusty Collins to the sin bin, Moose on the PK. If they’re wanting to nurse the lead, they’re certainly making it difficult.

Schneider with a great save, absorbing a shot. He’s been great so far tonight. Only one ‘bad’ goal against, as he had no chance on that redirect goal Texas scored.

Moose with yet ANOTHER penalty. Jeet Louise. Guess they want to make things difficult. With about 7 minutes left to go.

Stevenson with a boarding call (what the hell is with the Stars tonight?!) Moose to the PK with about 5 minutes left to go.

Salcido jumps up and has a nice chance out in front, but nothing doing. And that about does it for the Moose PP.

Stars outshooting the Moose 13-3 so far. Moose content to sit back and let them come. Schneider’s been looking all world tonight.

Desbiens in 1 on 1 against Lukowich. Lukowich does a great job at working him off the puck.

HOLY CRAP! Maxim Fortunus with not one, not two, but THREE saves on an empty net as the Moose tried to make it 4-2. Michael Grabner had a shot batted down by Fortunus. Bloody BRILLIANT. Dallas has a keeper on their hands with Max.

And that does it, Moose close out 2009 with a win over the Texas Stars!