RECAP: Strand Scores Twice in 5-3 Loss to Manitoba

ROCKFORD, Ill. – The Manitoba Moose ended their 11-game losing streak with a 5-3 victory over the Rockford IceHogs on Saturday night at the BMO Center. Rockford matched Manitoba goal-for-goal in the first two periods. A tally from Nolan Allan and two goals from Austin Strand put pressure on Manitoba in the first two periods, but Parker Ford’s power-play goal solidified Manitoba’s victory.

Rockford was 0-for-3 on the power play and was outshot 31-18. Colin Delia recorded 15 saves and Drew Commesso stopped 26.

Manitoba scored within the first two minutes of play when Simon Lundmark scored on a shot that deflected off a Rockford stick and found the back of the net (1:56).

Rockford retaliated with a barrage of shots and controlled the pace of play in the last half of the first period. Jackson Cates brought the puck up the slot and sent a shot toward Delia who made a pad save. Allan, lurking in the slot, found the puck after the shot from Cates and sent a wrist shot toward the net. The puck fluttered in the air and bounced over Delia’s glove and into the back of the net (18:05).

In the second stanza, Manitoba’s Ville Heinola scored to give the Moose a 2-1 lead (7:46). 30 seconds later, Rockford evened the score with a shot at the blue line from Strand (8:16).

Strand was alone at the blue line as he received a pass from Michal Teply and sent a wrist shot into the net.

The 2-2 tie would be short-lived as Manitoba’s passing game to the slot gave them their third lead. Dawson Barteaux sent a pass to Kyle Capobiancco from the blue line to the right faceoff circle. Capobiancco tapped the pass to the slot where Jeffrey Viel’s stick tapped the puck into the net (10:37). Kristian Reichel added to Manitoba’s lead late in the second to make it 4-2 (18:25).

As the final seconds of the middle period rolled away, Rockford made one last effort to turn the tide their way. Strand made his way through the slot past three Manitoba defenders before sending a backhanded shot to the goal from the left side of the net with less than two seconds left in the period (19:58).

Manitoba used a power-play goal from Parker Ford to take a 5-3 advantage (3:45).

With just over three minutes left to play in regulation, Rockford pulled Drew Commesso from goal to close the 5-3 lead but Manitoba’s defense prevailed.

Rockford returns for game two against the Manitoba Moose on Tuesday. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 30 at 7 PM: FIESTA TUESDAY
Enjoy $2 tacos along with margarita and craft beer specials on Fiesta Tuesday with media partner Q98.5!

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