Rockford, IL - The Rockford IceHogs fell short 3-2 on Wednesday against the Manitoba Moose inside the BMO Center.

The Hogs got off to a quick start with two strikes less than two minutes apart in the opening period. At 4:41, Gavin Hayes sent an area pass ahead for Marcel Marcel who got his own rebound and pushed the puck past Manitoba's Thomas Milic.

Moments later, Aidan Thompson was fed ahead by Jamie Engelbert and the rookie snapped his shot off the glove and in. 

Manitoba got on the board while on the power play with a Samuel Fagemo tally from the near dot to cut into the Rockford lead 2-1.

The Hogs earned three power plays in the 2nd period, but it was the Moose that had the most success while killing the penalties. With 11 seconds to go in the frame, former IceHogs defenseman Isaak Phillips snapped a shot past Drew Commesso with a short-handed marker to tie the game 2-2.

Three minutes into the 3rd, the Moose got another goal from their defense core with a seeing-eye wrsiter from Villie Heinola for Manitoba's first lead.

Milic thwarted a late Rockford attack and the Moose hung on for a 3-2 win.

The IceHogs are back in action on Saturday, November 15 at 7:00 p.m. hosting the Manitoba Moose. It's "Hockey Fights Cancer Night" benefitting Movember. Tickets are available at icehogs.com.