Both teams in this one had swept both their games last weekend so it set up for a good tilt between the Moose and IceHogs.
Lineup news:
The only change for the Moose was flipping Daniel Torgersson for Henri Nikkanen. Simon Lundmark taking warm-up but suspect that’s just team keeping him engaged. Collin Delia got the net vs his former team.
Moose lineup:
Malott-Lambert-Ford
Viel – Zhilkin – Chibrikov
Suess – Reichel – AJF
Torgersson – Bongiovanni – Jones
Capobianco – Stewart
Oligny – Bauer
Sautner – Kniazev
Delia
Salminen
Notable:
It was an excellent start by the home team who were buzzing in the visitors zone and had outshot them 5-0.
Manitoba took three straight penalties in the opening period of play which is less than idea against the top power play in the AHL. They actually did really well on the first couple not allowing a single shot in the first opportunity and one in the second. However the third time was not the charm as they got burnt late in the Rockford power play.
Big hits are becoming the hallmark of Jets prospect Tyrel Bauer.
Playing from behind was a theme in this one. The Moose tied the game 1-1 when Axel Jonsson-Fjallby got his third of the season after C.J. Suess took a look over his shoulder and finds his teammate.
Big Bad Brad Lambert scored his fifth goal in seven games for the Moose as the Jets prospect tied the game on a 4 on 3. No assist for Jeff Malott but he takes away the eyes of IceHogs goalie Jaxson Stauber.
Fellow Moose rookie Nikita Chibrikov doing his best reverse Cy Young as he picked up his eighth assist of the season on the Lambert goal. His stat line at that point in the game read: 7GP 1G 8A 9PTS.
Continue to see the craftiness of prospect Brad Lambert as this opportunity doesn’t result in a goal but it does set up a good chance.
An empty netter for the IceHogs as the Moose couldn’t find the equalizer with the 6 on 4 advantage which put them down 4-2.
It was too little, too late but Jets prospect Nikita Chibrikov scored his second of the season from long distance (although not as long distance of his first of the season) to bring the Moose within one with seven seconds to go in the game.
Moose drop the game 4-3 as the IceHogs take game one of this two-game set. Manitoba are now 4-3-0-0 on the season.
Through 7 games:
Brad Lambert 5G 5A 10 pts
Nikita Chibrikov 2G 8A 10 pts
Also Kyle Capobianco with 3A in the Moose loss. He’s got 4G 7A for 11 pts in 7 games.
Player/coach media availability:
Highlights:
Up next:
The Moose are back in action tomorrow with an afternoon re-match against the IceHogs.
