The Manitoba Moose wrapped up the second half of their four-game homestand, hosting the struggling Iowa Wild over the weekend at Canada Life Centre. Let's dive into the action-packed matchups that unfolded on Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday, Feb. 21 - Iowa 3, Manitoba 2 (OT)
Coming off a tough shootout loss to the Calgary Wranglers on Louis Riel Day, the Moose were eager to rebound. With several players loaned to the Jets, including Elias Salomonsson and Ville Heinola, the Moose saw fresh faces like Fabian Wagner and Dylan Anhorn stepping in. Brad Lambert also made his return after a brief absence.
The game kicked off with Riley Heidt breaking the ice at 9:24. After a blocked shot by Thomas Milic, Heidt capitalized with a slick backhander, marking his fourth goal of the season.
Manitoba answered back when Danny Zhilkin, a 2022 third-round pick for the Winnipeg Jets, orchestrated a brilliant 2-on-1 play with Isaak Phillips. Phillips nailed a wrist shot past William Rousseau, leveling the score and notching his fourth of the year.
Zhilkin wasn't done yet. Just over two minutes later, he showcased his finesse by maneuvering into the slot and deftly tucking the puck inside the near post for his 10th goal, giving Manitoba a 2-1 lead.
Despite being outshot 13-9, the Moose held their lead after the first period. The second period was quieter, but the third saw Tyler Pitlick tie things up with a crafty move around Phillips, slipping the puck through Milic's legs.
As regulation ended at 2-2, with Iowa leading in shots 33-27, the game headed to overtime. Former Winnipeg Ice captain Carson Lambos sealed the win for Iowa, finding the net just 1:55 into the extra period.
Milic put in a solid performance with 33 saves, but the Moose fell to a 23-17-5 record.
Sunday, Feb. 22 - Iowa 5, Manitoba 1
Meeting again on Sunday, the Moose faced more challenges with Colby Barlow listed day-to-day. Domenic DiVincentiis returned to the lineup and got the start, while Jacob Julien, a 2023 fifth-round pick for the Jets, rejoined the squad. Notably, Tyrel Bauer celebrated his 200th career game with the Moose.
Manitoba struck early, with Parker Ford winning a faceoff that led to Kale Clague's wrist shot finding the back of the net just 1:32 in, marking his eighth goal.
Iowa's Pitlick quickly responded, leveling the score at 5:04 with a shot that deflected off Barteaux’s skate. He continued his scoring spree with a wraparound goal at 12:57, putting Iowa in the lead.
Nicolas Aube-Kubel extended Iowa's lead to 3-1 with a breakaway goal late in the first period. Despite outshooting Iowa 10-7, Manitoba found themselves trailing by two.
The second period saw Heidt and Jack Peart add to Iowa's tally, making it 5-1. The Wild maintained their advantage, outshooting Manitoba 19-17.
The third period remained scoreless but included a peculiar officiating error. Bauer was penalized for elbowing, but the major penalty wasn't properly served, leaving Manitoba shorthanded longer than expected.
Iowa secured the win, handing Manitoba their third consecutive loss. DiVincentiis made 30 saves, and the Moose's record shifted to 23-18-5.
Captain Mason Shaw didn't mince words post-game, emphasizing the need for full 60-minute efforts. "We gotta start period by period here and clean a lot of things up because our execution is horrendous right now. We got what we deserved."
The Moose now prepare to hit the road for a three-game stretch, starting Wednesday against the league-leading Grand Rapids Griffins. Catch the action at 6:00 p.m. CT on FloHockey.