Moose Recap: Manitoba 3 at Rockford 2

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Quick Hits

• Simon Lundmark recorded two points (1G, 1A) and the game-winning goal in the Moose win
• Evan Cormier made 33 stops in the Moose road victory
• Lukas Reichel scored twice for Rockford in the loss

Game Story

The Manitoba Moose (37-25-5-4) clashed with the Rockford IceHogs (34-28-5-4) on Saturday evening at BMO Center. Manitoba was coming off a 3-2 loss in Texas on Wednesday night.

Manitoba opened the scoring 5:48 into the contest. Simon Lundmark sent the puck across the blue line to Leon Gawanke, who blasted a one-timer past Arvid Soderblom for his 20th goal of the season. Rockford answered at the 12:31 mark of the frame. Rocco Grimaldi fired a pass to Lukas Reichel back door and the IceHogs forward ripped a shot past a lunging Evan Cormier. Cormier ended the frame with eight stops, as Manitoba took to the first intermission knotted up 1-1.

Rockford pulled ahead with a goal on the power play in the second. The IceHogs attacked with speed, which allowed Reichel to dart in and beat Cormier off another quick one-timer. The Moose fired back and tied the contest. With a Manitoba power play expiring, Alex Limoges sent the pass across the seam to Greg Meireles. The forward clutched and snapped the disc past the glove of Soderblom. The Moose were outshot 16-7 in the middle stanza, but carried a 2-2 tie into the intermission.

Manitoba found the go-ahead tally at the 8:01 mark of the third. Lundmark, who registered an assist in the first frame, threw a shot on net and beat a partially screened Soderblom from distance. Carson Golder, who was making his debut, recorded an assist for his first professional point. With time ticking down and the IceHogs down by a goal, the decision was made to call Soderblom to the bench in favour of the extra attacker. Despite late pressure and chances, the Moose didn’t break as the horn sounded to draw the game to a close. Cormier notched his first win of the season and ended the game with 33 stops, while Soderblom was hit with the loss and made 27 saves of his own.

Statbook

• Carson Golder recorded an assist in his professional debut
• Leon Gawanke is one of two defenceman this season in the AHL to reach 20 goals for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign
• Parker Ford has tallied three points (1G, 2A) his past three contests
• Greg Meireles has points in consecutive games with two points (1G, 1A)
• Simon Lundmark recorded his second multi-point outing this season and first game-winning goal
• Evan Polei matched his previous career-high with his 12th assist

What's Next?

The Moose travel to Chicago for the final contest of the regular season against the Wolves at Allstate Arena on Sunday, April 16. Puck drop is slated for 3 p.m. CT. You can catch the game on CJOB.com/sports the Winnipeg Jets App or AHLTV.