Preview: Battling the Birds
By: Manitoba Moose Staff | Published: March 23rd 2019
March 23, 2019 vs Colorado Eagles
The Manitoba Moose (32-27-4-2) finish off their season series against the Colorado Eagles (33-24-3-1) tonight in Loveland, Colo. at 8:05 p.m. CT. The Moose won the first game of the back-to-back series last night by a 2-0 score. Fans can catch the game on moosehockey.com/listenlive/, the Moose App, or stream the game live on AHLTV.
Colorado will be happy to be done with Manitoba this season. The Moose have won all three meetings so far, outscoring the Eagles 10-1. While that is an impressive stat, Colorado will want to make a statement against Manitoba at the Budweiser Events Center, where the Eagles are 20-8-2-1 in their inaugural AHL season.
The Moose have struggled on the road this season, but despite their 10-17-3-1 record, Manitoba have won three of their last four games away from Winnipeg. The most recent, in part one of the series against Colorado, was largely thanks to goaltender Ken Appleby.
Due to injuries and call-ups, the third-year pro was asked to make his first start for the Moose since January 26; despite having only flown in to meet the team earlier in the day. Appleby recorded his first shutout with the club, making 33 saves, and made the scoresheet with an assist on JC Lipon’s second period goal.
The Moose penalty kill was a major factor in Friday’s game. The Eagles had six power play opportunities, but couldn’t find a goal with the man advantage. Over the last seven games, Manitoba has killed off 27 of 30 penalties, or 90 per cent. In holding the Eagles off the board, the Moose shut out a team for the first time on the road this season.
Manitoba are two points out of the fourth, and final, playoff spot in the Central Division with a game in hand on the Rockford IceHogs. With 11 games left on the schedule the Moose can’t afford a letdown in tonight’s rematch with the Eagles.
For Colorado, last night’s MVP was the crowd. The raucous atmosphere kept energy and tensions high all night, which wasn’t a surprise for Moose forward Cam Maclise.
Maclise was a big part of the Eagles 2016-17 ECHL Championship season, scoring 12 points (5G, 7A) in 20 playoff games. The Lacombe, Alta. native said on Thursday, he expected a noisy audience in his return to Loveland.
“Their fans are really passionate and really loyal. It’s going to be fun. Should expect nothing less than two full crowds coming up this weekend… Thinking back to playoffs when I was here, it gets loud and they get behind their team. It’s definitely a tough place to come in and play.”
The Moose jet off to Texas for a Wednesday night game against the Stars. The final meeting between Manitoba and Texas has major playoff implications as the Stars currently sit one point ahead of the Moose in the standings. You can tune in for that one on TSN 1290, moosehockey.com/listenlive/, the Moose App, and streaming live on AHLTV with Mitch Peacock and the pre-game show beginning at 7:45 p.m. CT
