IOWA DEFEATED BY MANITOBA IN OVERTIME BY A SCORE OF 3-2
Nov 23, 2018-Iowa’s point streak extends to five games-
Iowa Wild (11-4-2-1; 25 pts.) extended its point streak to five games with a 3-2 overtime loss to the Manitoba Moose (9-8-1-0; 19 pts.).
Manitoba scored the first tally of the game on a broken play in front of goaltender CJ Motte (29 saves). At 18:28 in the first period, forward Logan Shaw put a shot on net that was saved by Motte. Crashing the net, Manitoba players pushed Motte and the puck across the goal line for the first goal of the contest and Shaw’s fifth of the season. Winger Seth Griffith notched his seventh assist of the year on the play.
Fifty seconds after Shaw’s goal, Wild forward Mitch McLain tied the game at 1-1. Standing at the far right hash-marks, forward Gerry Mayhew tossed a puck on net. Forward Mike Liambas made a quick deflection in front of goaltender Eric Comrie (37 saves), who made a save but gave up a big rebound. McLain caught the puck on the far post and slammed it home ahead of the diving Comrie for his fourth goal of the season.
Through the first period, the score was tied 1-1 with Manitoba outshooting Iowa 12-10.
Forward Luke Kunin put Iowa in the lead with a breakaway goal scored at 13:58 in the second period. Forward Mason Shaw sprung Kunin when he lofted a pass up in the air, hitting Kunin in stride with an open lane to Comrie. Kunin then got Comrie to open his five-hole, sneaking the puck across the goal line for his fifth goal in 2018-19. Defenseman Louie Belpedio also earned a helper on the play.
Manitoba answered with a goal by defenseman Tucker Poolman at 15:42 in the middle frame. After receiving a pass from forward Mason Appleton, Poolman took a long wrist shot from the right point. The puck bounced off Motte’s left arm and into the net, tying the game at 2-2.
Iowa quickly regained the lead once again thanks to forward Gerry Fitzgerald’s seventh tally of the season. Defenseman Ryan Murphy took a slap shot from the point that was blocked by a Moose defenseman. Fitzgerald picked up the open puck and with Comrie frozen on Murphy’s initial shot, the rookie buried the puck, giving the Wild a 3-2 lead. Fitzgerald’s goal came at 16:52 in the middle stanza and Kunin registered his fourth multi-point game with an assist.
At the end of 40 minutes, Iowa led 3-2, while Manitoba outshot the Wild 26-25.
The back-and-forth affair continued when Manitoba forward Emile Poirier notched his second goal of the season at 6:15 in the third period. Forward Michael Spacek made a short pass to defenseman Peter Stoykewych, who launched a slap shot on net. In front of Motte, Poirier got the tip of his stick on the puck, enough to deflect it just past the skate of Motte and into the back of the net, tying the game at 3-3.
For the third consecutive game, the Wild headed to overtime.
Just 29 seconds into the extra frame, Appleton and Spacek engaged in a give-and-go, with Appleton recording the game-winning goal after burying a shot into an open net, giving the Moose a 4-3 overtime victory.
Despite the loss, Iowa extended its point streak to five games and road point streak to six games. The Wild outshot the Moose 40-33 and finished the night 0-for-4 on the power play.
The two teams close out the season series with a Saturday matinee in Winnipeg. Puck drop is at 2:00 p.m.
The Iowa Wild 2018-19 season is presented by Mercy Medical Center and runs from October through April. For more information, please contact the Wild office by calling 515-564-8700 or by visiting www.iowawild.com.