The Manitoba Moose had two games this past weekend, both back-to-back matinees against division rival Rockford IceHogs, looking to cap off their four-game homestand with four more points.
Saturday, Jan. 31 – Manitoba 4, Rockford 1
Manitoba came into Saturday’s contest coming off a 3-2 regulation win over the league-best Grand Rapids Griffins. They were the first team to hand Grand Rapids a regulation road loss, and they looked to continue that momentum against the IceHogs.
They did exactly that, as it took just 16 seconds for Manitoba to get on the scoreboard. David Gustafsson and Nikita Chibrikov did a great job on the forecheck, and Moose captain Mason Shaw was in the right place at the right time, parked in front of the net. When the puck popped out to him from the corner, he beat Stanislav Berezhnoy glove side for his team-leading 12th of the season.
STRONG START FOR THE SQUAD
The Moose had some trouble getting the puck out of their zone, and Rockford made them pay at 16:59 when the puck found Gavin Hayes on the right circle. Hayes beat Thomas Milic’s blocker to tie the game 1-1 with his seventh of the season.
JULES WITH HIS FIRST PRO POINT ON JAD’S GOAL!
Anderson-Dolan netted his second of the afternoon 7:11 into the middle frame. Julien entered the IceHogs’ zone and dropped the puck to Brayden Yager, who slid a pass across to Anderson-Dolan streaking in on the left side. Anderson-Dolan beat Berezhnoy with a quick snapshot to give Manitoba a two-goal lead.
Parker Ford added some insurance 7:55 into the third period to give the Moose a three-goal cushion. Brad Lambert held the puck behind the Rockford net and sent a blind backhand pass out front, where Ford knocked the puck from his forehand to his backhand and put it past Berezhnoy into the open cage for his fourth of the season.
Manitoba ultimately held on for a 4-1 victory, their second straight win. Milic had a relatively easier night than usual but was sharp when needed, making 15 saves.
Sunday, Feb. 1 – Manitoba 2, Rockford 1
Manitoba and Rockford met again the very next day to open the month of February, with the Moose looking to cap off their four-game homestand with at least three wins.
Just like Saturday’s contest, Manitoba wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, as Yager converted on the power play 41 seconds into the game for his fifth of the year. Samuel Fagemo held the puck along the left wall inside the offensive zone and sent a pass down low to Yager on the goal line. Yager attempted to thread a cross-crease pass to Phillip Di Giuseppe for a one-timer, but the puck fortuitously caromed off an IceHog and into the net.
Manitoba held the one-goal lead into the second period, and David Gustafsson, also known as the “Gus Bus,” put his club up by a pair 2:35 into the middle frame. Shaw’s one-timer was stopped by Berezhnoy, and the rebound kicked to the left side of the net, where Gustafsson slammed it home on his backhand for his eighth of the season. The officials initially ruled it no goal, seemingly to review whether Gustafsson had pushed the goaltender’s pad into the net, but the call stood.
After Gustafsson’s goal, the Moose slowed down considerably, as Rockford outshot Manitoba 12-7 in the middle frame after Manitoba outshot the IceHogs 14-6 in the opening period.
Rockford’s hard work paid off at 9:43 of the second period when Nick Lardis beat Domenic DiVincentiis on a one-timer set up by Rem Pitlick. It was Lardis’ 14th of the season.
Manitoba continued to be outplayed in the third period, but DiVincentiis stayed calm and composed, making several key stops to keep his team in front by one.
Despite being outshot 33-25 overall and 15-4 in the third period, Manitoba held on to collect its third straight victory, concluding the homestand with six of a possible eight points. DiVincentiis made 32 saves for his 10th win of the season and was named the game’s First Star.
Manitoba now hits the road for back-to-back games in Cedar Park against the Texas Stars on Feb. 6 and 7. Puck drop for both contests is set for 7:00 p.m. CST, with the games available to watch on AHLTV.