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This article was published 13/1/2016 (1709 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba Moose got a much-needed final helping of home cooking at the MTS Centre Wednesday night, dumping the Lake Erie Monsters 4-0 in what will be the Moose’s final home game for three weeks.

The Manitoba win over Lake Erie snapped a three-game losing streak for the Moose and gave the club something positive to build upon as they now head out on a season-long eight-game road trip that will keep them away from home until Feb. 4.

The Moose had been outscored 14-4 in their last three games heading into Wednesday night — including a 7-3 loss to the Monsters Monday night at the MTS Centre.

But it was a very different Manitoba club on display — opportunistic offensively, disciplined defensively and entertaining to watch.

Put it all together and the Moose won for just the second time in their last six games and improved to 11-20-1-3 this season.

Finally

The Moose win came against a Lake Erie team that had owned them all season long -- the Monsters were a perfect 5-0 against the Moose this season and had beaten Manitoba by a combined margin of 13 goals heading into Wednesday night.

Manitoba Moose Julian Melchiori (44), Patrice Cormier (28), JC Lipon (34) and Paul Postma (4) celebrate after Lipon scored on Lake Erie Monsters' goaltender Brad Thiessen during first period AHL action, Wednesday, January 13, 2016. (TREVOR HAGAN/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

Big Night for De Leo

Moose centre Chase De Leo had a memorable second period, scoring back-to-back goals just 2:15 apart.

With the Moose already leading 1-0 on a first period goal by JC Lipon, De Leo doubled Manitoba’s lead at 4:32 of the second period, slamming home a rebound.

And then just one shift later, De Leo had his second of the night -- and team-leading 11th of the season -- on a beauty of one timer from the face-off circle that cleanly beat Monsters netminder Brad Thiessen.

Jiri Fronk’s third period goal -- on a beautiful pass from Nic Petan -- rounded out the scoring for the Moose.

Manitoba Moose Nic Petan (13) hits the post as he tries to knock the puck past Lake Erie Monsters' goaltender Brad Thiessen during first period AHL action, Wednesday, January 13, 2016. (TREVOR HAGAN/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

Gordie Howe Hat Trick for Lipon

Lipon authored the increasingly rare Gordie Howe hat trick Wednesday night, scoring the game’s first goal on a wraparound, chipping in an assist on the second goal of the game and then getting into a fight midway through the second period with Monsters defenceman Dillon Heatherington.

The two-point night has Lipon third in scoring for the Moose right now with 17 points (eight goals and nine assists).

De Leo is second in scoring with 20 points (11 goals and nine assists), while defenceman Brenden Kichton continues to lead the team in scoring with 21 points (three goals and 18 assists).

Comrie Records First Shutout

Making his 14th consecutive start -- and 20th in Manitoba’s last 21 games -- Moose goaltender Eric Comrie recorded his first career shutout in the American Hockey League, turning away 24 shots.

The shutout came just one game after Comrie was lifted in the third period after having given up five goals to the Monsters.

Checking in on Postma

Defenceman Paul Postma, who was sent down to the Moose by the Winnipeg Jets earlier this week for a conditioning assignment, had an assist on Lipon’s goal and now has a goal and an assist in two games in the American Hockey League.

Postma also had a team-leading six shots against the Monsters and has led the Moose in shots on goal in both games he has played this week.

Up Next

The Moose play this Saturday and Sunday in Charlotte, North Carolina against the Checkers (21-12-1-1, 5th in Western Conference) before crossing the continent and embarking on a six-game road trip through California that will begin and end in Ontario, with two-game stops in Stockton and Bakersfield in between.

It’s a gruelling eight games in 14 nights schedule and the Moose have struggled on the road, where they are just 3-11-0-1 this season.

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @PaulWiecek