Moose Moment: Taming the Rampage

The Moose finished their pre-Christmas schedule with a pair of wins against the San Antonio Rampage, the top affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche.  With the two wins, the Moose extended their franchise record point streak to 16 games.

On Thursday, the Moose returned home to begin a four game homestand with their first game of the season against the Rampage.  It would be the Rampage getting off to a quick start, with Trent Vogelhuber scoring 3:22 into the game to put the Rampage ahead 1-0.  After that goal, the Moose would take over the game.  Rookie sensation Mason Appleton would score his 10^th of the year just over 4 minutes later to tie the game at 1 after the 1^st period.  In the 2^nd period, the Moose would outshoot the Rampage 16-5, and extend the lead to 5-1.  Sami Niku scored his 4^th of the season on the powerplay, Jack Roslovic scored his team leading 15^th, Nic Petan scored his 6^th on the powerplay, and Patrice Cormier scored his 14^th of the season shorthanded to make it 5-1 after 2.  The Rampage would score early in the 3^rd off the stick of Rocco Grimaldi on the powerplay just under 2 minutes in to get the Rampage back in the game.  However, the Moose would score twice in 12 seconds just over 2 minutes later to put the game away.  Michael Spacek scored his 4^th to make it 6-2, and Mike Sgarbossa reached double digits with his 10^th to make the final 7-2.  Michael Hutchinson gave up 2 goals on 35 shots in the victory.

On Friday, the Moose played their final game before the Christmas break against the Rampage.  Unlike Thursday, the Moose got off to a better start, and would open the scoring halfway through the 1^st period.  Brendan Lemieux scored his 9^th of the season on a powerplay, jamming home a bouncing puck past goalie Spencer Martin to give the Moose the lead.  They would extend the lead just over 4 minutes later.  Nic Petan would make a beautiful deke inside the Rampage zone.  His shot was stopped, but the rebound fell to Mason Appleton, and he hammered it home to give the Moose a 2-0 with his 11^th goal of the season.  After the Rampage scored late in the second period on the powerplay to make it 2-1, the Moose were able to lock the game down in the third.  Appleton would add an empty netter, his 12^th of the season to make the final score 3-1 Moose.  Michael Hutchinson, making his 4^th consecutive start, stopped 36 of 37 shots for his 13^th win of the season, improving his record to 13-1-2 on the season.

F Jack Roslovic, a 2015 1^st round pick, had 5 points in the 2 games (1 goal and 4 assists).  In his second professional season with the Moose, the Columbus, OH native is 2^nd in league scoring with 15 goals and 20 assists in 31 games.  Roslovic has already set a new career high in goals with 15, and is closing in on his rookie scoring total of 48 points.

As of December 28^th, 2017

The Moose play their final two games of 2017 on Saturday and Sunday against the San Jose Barracuda, the top affiliate of the San Jose Sharks.  Both games are 2:00 PM starts at Bell MTS Place.  Both games can be heard on moosehockey.com, and Saturday’s game can also be heard on TSN 1290.