Preview: Moose at San Antonio – Dec. 14

Moose at San Antonio – AT&T Center – 7 p.m. CT
Broadcast: TSN 1290, moosehockey.com/listenlive, AHLTV

The Moose suit up for their third game in four nights this evening when they face the San Antonio Rampage. The contest rounds out the Texas portion of Manitoba's five-game road swing. The well traveled Moose hope to snap out of a three-game losing streak and work their way back into the win column on a consistent basis, having lost seven of 10.

The Moose played a solid game up the road in Austin last night, but it wasn't enough as they fell 3-2 to the Stars. The hosts got some home bounces late in the first and were able to capitalize to the tune of a 2-0 lead. Seth Griffith answered in the second with a power play tally to pull the Moose within one. Just 45 seconds into the third, Adam Mascherin scored on a two-on-one to restore the two-goal Texas lead. Kristian Vesalainen picked a corner for Manitoba's second power play goal of the night midway through the third. That was as close as the Moose would come, unable to finish off the late push.

All three of the losses in this slide for the Moose have seen the team fall behind by at least two before the midway point of the game. Manitoba is outshooting the opposition by a 33-19 margin in the final frame. The Moose have allowed five or less or less shots on two of those occasions, but surrendered goals in both those games.  The offence continues to run cold for the Moose over this last stretch of five games. Manitoba has scored at least three goals just once and has a 6.7 per cent shooting percentage.

"I think it's just getting some bounces here and there and bearing down on the opportunities we do have," said forward Jansen Harkins following last night's loss. "I think each line contributed and had a bunch of chances so that's kind of the way the game shaped out. A couple posts and a couple didn't go our way. We get those bounces it's a different game, but we just need to stick with it."

The Moose come into tonight's game with back-to-back wins against the Rampage. Those came on home ice on Nov. 15 and 17 with the Moose winning 2-1 in overtime and 5-2. The home team has won all three meetings between the clubs with San Antonio winning at AT&T Center on Opening Night.

Tonight's hosts are also looking to break out of a three-game losing string. The Rampage dropped a pair of games in Toronto on Dec. 7 and 8. They then had most of the week off game action before falling 2-1 in a 15-round shootout to the Tucson Roadrunners last night. San Antonio received reinforcements from the St. Louis Blues over the past couple days with Nathan Walker and Austin Poganski returning to the fold. They did, however, lose defenceman Niko Mikkola to St. Louis.

The Moose and Rampage clash at 7 p.m. CT in a game you can catch on TSN 1290, moosehockey.com/listenlive and AHLTV. If you've been thinking about picking up AHLTV, today's the day to do it. Check out the deal below: