The Moose left Iowa last weekend with a 2-0-0 record after sweeping their series opening weekend for the first time since AHL hockey returned to Manitoba 10 seasons ago. They looked to continue that success this evening in Michigan. The only question mark after a few days of practice in Winnipeg was whether or not Jets prospect Chaz Lucius (2021 1st) would be making his season debut which seemed unlikely as he dressed in an extras uniform during practice but did participate in PP2 drills.
Lineup news:
A few changes for Manitoba today as Tyrel Bauer, who was scheduled to play last night but was a late scratch remained out of the lineup. Suspect they held Chaz Lucius out as part of his ice time management after he made his season debut on Friday night. They also pulled Daniel Torgersson, who had a costly turnover in the game yesterday and Mark Liwiski out in favour of Kevin Conley and Tyson Empey. Lastly they swapped out goalie Thomas Milic for Domenic DiVincentiis.
Moose lineup:
Toninato-Lambert-Ford
Shaw-Zhilkin-Chibrikov
Suess-King-AJF
Conley-Nikkanen-Empey
Lundmark – Salomonsson
Anhorn – Kuzmin
Sautner – Barteaux
DiVincentiis
Notable:
Turnovers were the name of the game in the opening period but Domenic DiVincentiis made a nice shorthanded breakaway stop and followed that up with this beauty.
Four minutes into the middle frame the Moose had a chance to clear the zone, they didn’t and they got burnt as a result to fall behind 1-0.
Something you don’t see very often occurred at the end of the 2nd period.. The Moose and Griffins had to head to the rooms with just under a minute to go in the period when there was an ice issue in Grand Rapids. So they played that final bit of time after the 2nd intermission ended and then started the 3rd after a minute delay.
Tyson Empey gets the Moose on the board with his first in antlers as he tied the game early in the 3rd.
An unfortunate spill by Danny Zhilkin gives the Griffins a chance to take the lead and they do.
C.J. Suess and Brad Lambert came very close with under 30 seconds to go to tie the game but they both just failed to click.
In the end the Moose fell 2-1 to the Griffins as Grand Rapids sweeps the weekend set which means Manitoba falls to 2-2-0 on the season.
Multi-point game:
None.
Highlights:
Post-game interviews:
Up next:
The Moose return home for another week of practice before they finally get to play their home opener next Saturday afternoon. They are off tomorrow.
