Jimmy Lodge scored a power play goal at 9:46 of the second period and that proved to be the winner as the Manitoba Moose defeated the Toronto Marlies 2-1 Tuesday night at MTS Centre.

Chase De Leo also scored for the Moose who received a 34-save performance from Ondrej Pavelec.

"A win is a win," said Manitoba head coach Pascal Vincent. "We blocked a lot of shots. Our goalie was really good. We scored a goal on the powerplay. I think it was a gutsy win."

Colin Smith had the lone goal for Toronto.

It was Byron Froese's first game with the Marlies since being sent down to the American Hockey League by the Maple Leafs on Monday.

The 25-year-old Winkler product played road games against the Colorado Avalanche and Arizona Coyotes before the start of the NHL's Christmas break.

Froese was loaned to the Marlies on Christmas Day and was recalled by the Leafs on December 27th.

He did not play against the Tampa Bay Lightning on December 29th and did not dress for the Centennial Classic on New Years Day against the Detroit Red Wings.

The Moose and Marlies meet again tonight at MTS Centre.

 

photos courtesy Ray Peters