HOGS NAB POINT IN 2-1 OT LOSS TO MOOSE

WINNIPEG, Manitoba – Mason Appleton scored midway through the third period to force overtime and Michael Spacek netted the game-winner 51 seconds into the extra frame to send the Manitoba Moose to a 2-1 win over the Rockford IceHogs Sunday afternoon at Bell MTS Place.

Appleton capitalized on a power play for the equalizing goal in the third period. Seth Griffith found the forward on a cross-zone setup and Appleton tapped home a backdoor goal to break up a shutout and draw the Moose even at 1-1.

In overtime, Spacek corralled a rebound on an initial shot from Appleton and used a clever deke to fool Kevin Lankinen and tuck the puck behind the Hogs netminder. Spacek netted the decisive tally just 51 seconds into overtime to secure Manitoba an outright series win with a 3-0-0-1 record against the IceHogs this season.

Aside from the pair of goals, Lankinen stopped 26 pucks in an impressive effort that helped Rockford notch a point in the standings. He stonewalled 18 shots through the first two periods and helped kill off each of the first four power plays from Manitoba’s special teams. With the point, Lankinen is now 5-2-1 over his last eight outings.

Peter Holland scored the IceHogs’ lone goal in the contest, blasting home a shot from the top of the left circle to give the Hogs an early 1-0 lead. Holland has now tallied six points (3g, 3a) in his first seven games for Rockford.

Mikhail Berdin finished with 32 saves on 33 shots to earn the win for the Moose.

Next Home Game: March 16 vs. Cleveland | 6 p.m.
The Rockford IceHogs host Dino Night on March 16 at the BMO Harris Bank Center. The first 2,500 fans in attendance will receive a FREE bobblehead of Jane, the T-Rex, which is displayed in Rockford's own Burpee Museum of Natural History, courtesy of Register Star Media.