In a re-match of Tuesday night’s affair, which saw the Moose lose 4-3 with a rather listless effort – the home club once again took on the Rockford IceHogs (yes, that’s one word). Halfway through a scoreless game, the Moose were outshooting the IceHogs 20-5, albeit, many of those were weak shots from the point. The IceHogs then came back and outshot the Moose 8-1 in the remainder of the second period, including a few grade-A chances that just missed. The third period was back and forth, with both teams taking their chances, but neither team finding the back of the net. With no goals scored in regulation or in OT, the game went to a shootout.
Shootout
Moose Shooters:
(1) Connor – tremendous forehand-backhand deke, but Lars Johansson reached out just enough to get a toe on it
(2) DeSalvo – shot low-glove and was stopped
(3) Roslovic – swooped wide-right, came in sharply and tried to go five-hole, to no avail
IceHogs Shooters:
(1) Abbott- nifty backhand-forehand deke fooled Comrie
(2) Latta – hit the cross-bar
Player Highlights & Review
LW – Kyle Connor – easily his best game of the year on home ice – Connor had the puck on his stick all night and was making things happen. He easily had 4 good scoring chances, most of which he created himself using good lateral mobility to make space for himself in the high slot. He also had a great rush late in the third which almost ended the game. It was a very encouraging game for Connor, as his play to this point, though good, had not been impressive relative to his tremendous ability.
C – Jack Roslovic – after last night’s game where he tried unsuccessfully to do everything himself, Roslovic was equally ineffective tonight. He had a few giveaways where he was trying to force the play, and was still trying to do too much on his own. Keep in mind, this is a 19-year-old centre, who’s been the most dynamic skater all year for the Moose, and leads the team in scoring.
RW – J.C Lipon – after a very strong game last night, Lipon was noticeable again tonight. He skated well, carried the puck into some dangerous areas, and made a few nice plays, including setting up Brenden Kichton in the slot early in the game. He’s found his form playing alongside Kyle Connor and Patrice Cormier.
LW – Brandon Tanev – his skating is sublime at this level, and with that bit of extra time he has in the AHL, it makes him a tremendous puck carrier, and very effective at even-strength. He also brought a physical element, and was dangerous on the pk tonight.
RD – Brendan Kichton – he jumped into the play a few times tonight, and had the two great chances in the slot, including one which he put off the cross-bar in the second. He still has no goals on the year – tough for a guy who led the team in scoring last season. He had a few struggles in his own zone, in particular, a play late in the game where he was caught flat-footed and was fortunate not to be the goat on a few rebounds in the low slot.
LD – Kevin Czuczman – the top D for the Moose tonight, and most nights this year, Czuczman was a useful part of the attack tonight, without giving away much defensively. He has above average hands, size, and skating at the AHL level, though at 27, he wouldn’t be considered a prospect. Ironically, he is one of two defenders on the Moose that has an AHL-only contract, meaning he isn’t presently a call-up option for the Jets. (24-year-old Winnipegger, Peter Stoykewych is the other.) All of the Moose’s other regulars do have NHL contracts – Julian Melchiori, Brenden Kichton, Brian Strait, Jan Kostalek, and Nelson Nogier.
G – Eric Comrie – he faced only 5 shots in the first half of the game, but made a few big stops in the second to keep the game notted at nothing. Overall he was solid all game, though he had some puck luck tonight, as a few pucks nicked the post, and a few other great IceHogs chances simply went awry. He got beat on both chances in the shootout – a deke and a shot off the cross-bar, but as he noted in the post-game, the last time he faced this team in the shootout, he saved 8/8.
Other Game Notes: Scott Kosmachuk was a healthy scratch for tonight’s game. It’s been a tough season for Kosmachuk, who has gone through injuries, as well as stints on the 4th line prior tonight’s coach’s decision. He has shown brief glimpses of top-6 ability at times in the past, but has also proven to be maddeningly inconsistent over the past three seasons. Right-handed defenceman Jan Kostalek sat out due to illness.
Lineup
Tanev-Roslovic-Glennie
Connor-Cormier-Lipon
Howden-De Leo-Olsen
Lemieux-DeSalvo-Lodge
Czuczman-Kichton
Strait-Melchiori
Stoykewych-Nogier
Comrie
Phillips
Post-game audio:
Eric Comrie
Coach Vincent
