PREVIEW: Back on the Ice in Iowa
By: Manitoba Moose Staff | Published: January 6th 2018
The Manitoba Moose (24-6-2-2) are right back at it tonight in Iowa, where the Wild (15-11-6-3) are fighting to stay in a playoff position. Tonight is the third time the Moose have played in Iowa this season, splitting the first two games 2-3 (Oct. 20) and 4-2 (Oct. 21). The loss to the Wild in October was the last regulation loss for the Moose against a Central Division opponent. Manitoba is 12-3-1-1 in their division this season. You can catch Mitch Peacock and the pre-game show on moosehockey.com/listenlive/ starting at 6:45pm (CST) and puck drop at 7pm (CST).
HATS OF TO YOU, BUDDY
Buddy Robinson recorded his first career hat-trick of his career last night in Chicago. His first goal came with two minutes left in the second period, and his next two came in the final minutes of regulation time as the third tied the game with 1.2 seconds left. Robinson now leads the Moose with 16 goals on the season and is tied for eighth in the AHL. The Bellmawr, NJ native is one shy of his career high (17 goals in 66 games) set last season.
SHOOTERS
Moose forwards Buddy Robinson and Mason Appleton have been very consistent this season in getting pucks on net. Robinson is riding a 30-game shot streak while Appleton is one game behind with shots in 29 straight. The pair of forwards also own the top two spots on the Moose leaderboard in terms of shots on net with Robinson at 95 and Appleton at 82.
ABOUT TO BECOME WELL ACQUAINTED
The Moose and Wild face each other eight times this season with three of those meetings coming during a nine-day stretch. After tonight's game, the two teams matchup again on Jan. 13 and 14 in Winnipeg. The squads face off three times in nine days again from March 3-11.
IT'S BEEN AWHILE
Last night's defeat was Manitoba's first road loss since Nov. 12 in San Jose, a span of 55 days. During that time, the Moose had won six straight games away from Bell MTS Place. Overall, Manitoba holds a 13-4-1-0 road record, just one win shy of their road win total from all of 2016-17.
SLICK NIC
Nic Petan picked up two more assists last night to extend his point streak to eight games. During that span, the Delta, BC native has 11 points (4G, 7A) and has climbed into fourth spot on the Moose scoring list with 28 points (7G, 21A) in 27 games this season. Petan is just four points shy of matching his career high set in 2015-16.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Moose don’t get much of a break, as they continue their stretch of eight games in 16 days, but the next six will be at Bell MTS Place. They’ll start their home stand with games on Monday (Jan. 8) and Wednesday (Jan. 10) against the Grand Rapids Griffins. For tickets, stop by moosehockey.com/tickets/.
