Moose Moment: A Busy Week

The Moose completed a stretch of 17 straight games in the Central Division this week.  With games against Iowa, Milwaukee, and Chicago, all teams that are chasing the Moose in the standings, the Moose had a great opportunity to gain some more separation in the Central Division standings.

Last Saturday, the Moose opened a weekend series against the Iowa Wild.  A back and forth game ended up going the Moose’s way with a 5-4 overtime win.  The Moose had control in the first two periods, opening up a 4-1 lead after 2 periods.  However, 3 Wild goals in the first 9 minutes of the 3^rd period allowed the Wild to steal a point, and only drop 1 point in the standings from the Moose.  Brendan Lemieux and Michael Spacek each scored twice, with Lemieux scoring the overtime winner on the powerplay with just 9 seconds left in OT.  Steve Mason, making a rehab start coming off injury with the Jets, had a pedestrian start, allowing 4 goals on 22 shots.

The next night, the Moose once again got off to a good start, but could not sustain it, giving up 3 unanswered goals for the second straight night in a 4-3 loss.  Buddy Robinson scored his team leading 23^rd goal of the season in the loss, while Sami Niku added his 11^th, and Peter Stoykewych scored his 7^th.  Eric Comrie had a tough outing, giving up 4 goals on 28 shots in the loss.  With the loss, the Moose moved their record to 6-6-2 after 14 games in the 17 game stretch against the Central.

On Wednesday, the Moose hit the road to face the Milwaukee Admirals in a school day matinee.  After falling behind early in the game, the Moose battled back, before ultimately losing 3-2 in a shootout.  JC Lipon snapped a 12 game scoreless drought, scoring his 11^th goal of the season, while Sami Niku scored for a second straight game, his 12^th of the season.  Eric Comrie stopped 20 of 22 shots in regulation, but allowed goals on both shootout attempts to take the loss.

On Saturday, the Moose headed to Chicago to take on the second place Chicago Wolves.  The Wolves had closed the gap to 4 points behind the Moose for 1^st in the Central.  After giving up a late 1^st period goal, the Moose were able to lock down defensively, and a late 3^rd period powerplay goal by Nic Petan gave the Moose a 2-1 win.  Peter Stoykewych scored for the second time in the last 3 games to tie the game in the second period, his 8^th goal of the season.  Eric Comrie gave up just 1 goal on 23 shots for the win.

Last night, the Moose headed to Des Moines to face the Iowa Wild for the third time in just over a week.  Neither time was able to build more than a 1 goal lead in the game, and a powerplay goal midway through the 3^rd period by veteran Cal O’Reilly handed the Moose a 4-3 loss.  Jan Kostalek scored for the 1^st time in 15 games, his 2^nd of the season.  Mike Sgarbossa added his 14^th of the year, and Michael Spacek scored his 12^th of the year for Manitoba in the loss.  Eric Comrie gave up 4 goals in 28 shots in the loss.

Moose rookie and 2015 2^nd round pick Jansen Harkins has found a regular lineup spot as the season has progressed.  After scoring 75 goals and 242 points in 4 seasons with Prince George of the Western Hockey League, Harkins has 2 goals and 13 points in 42 games this season.

As of March 11^th, 2018

The Moose now begin a stretch of 6 straight games against Pacific Division teams, as they head to Austin, Texas on Wednesday to play the Stars, before heading to San Antonio on Friday to play the Rampage.