PREVIEW: Last Stop, San Antonio
By: Manitoba Moose Staff | Published: March 20th 2018
The Manitoba Moose (38-18-4-4) wrap up their longest road trip of the season, tonight in San Antonio (30-25-10-0). The teams met on Friday with the Moose pulling off a 3-2 overtime victory. That was Manitoba’s third win on this road swing, bringing the Moose record to 3-2-0-1, with tonight’s matchup to go. In the overall standings, the Tucson Roadrunners are nipping at Manitoba’s heels for first overall in the Western Conference with a 0.640 win percentage compared to a 0.656 for the Moose. You can catch tonight’s 7 p.m. (CT) puck drop on moosehockey.com/listenlive/.
THE BIG GUNS
Nic Petan and Mason Appleton are both averaging more than two points per game against the Rampage this season. Appleton has six points versus the Rampage (4G, 2A), including a goal and an assist in Friday's matchup. Petan’s seven points (2G, 5A) are the most he has against any opposition team this season. In Friday’s game against San Antonio, Appleton scored the tying goal with 67 seconds left in regulation and Petan fired home the game winner 54 seconds into overtime.
POINTS FOR GOOD BEHAVIOUR
Manitoba forward Cam Maclise has proven to be versatile in his rookie season. He’s pitched in 11 points (6G, 5A) while logging time on the Moose penalty kill. So far this season, Maclise has only recorded 16 penalty minutes in 55 games, an average of 0.29 penalty minutes per contest. For context, the 10 players who have played more games than Maclise on the campaign average 0.86 penalty minutes per game.
FIRSTS
A pair of Moose checked off milestones in their professional careers in Saturday's game. Defenceman Charles-David Beaudoin's second period goal was the first of his professional career. Beaudoin has eight points (1G, 7A) through 34 games of his rookie season. Meanwhile, goaltender Colton Phinney got into his first career AHL action, playing 34 minutes while stopping 14 of 17 shots.
SPACEK STREAKIN'
Forward Michael Spacek is on a roll, recording points in six straight games and nine points (4G, 5A) in his last nine games. Three of Spacek's four goals in that stretch came on the power play where has 10 goals this season, second among AHL rookies. The Winnipeg Jets' 2015 fourth round pick has climbed into a tie for 19th in scoring among league rookies with 32 points (13G, 19A) on the season.
CHIPPING IN
Defenceman Kirill Gotovets has points in three straight games played, marking his longest point streak of the season. Gotovets has three points (1G, 2A) over that span to bring his total to 11 points (1G, 10A) on the season. Six of Gotovets's points have come in his last 14 games.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Moose head home for eight straight at Bell MTS Place starting March 22 against Stockton. With lots of exciting home games coming up including a JC Lipon Mini Bobblehead giveaway (March 24) and Autism Awareness Day (March 31) get your tickets at moosehockey.com/tickets/.
