The Rockford IceHogs scored three goals, but couldn’t overcome a four-goal deficit as their season-long losing streak grew to four games in a 4-3 loss to the Manitoba Moose on Tuesday at Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg.
Manitoba (17-18-0-0) scored four goals in a 4:16-minute span in the second period to sweep the two-game set against Rockford. Kristian Vesalainen scored a power-play goal and had two assists, and Sami Niku had two assists. Mikhail Berdin made 30 saves for his second straight win in three days against the IceHogs (17-14-0-1).
Anton Wedin scored a goal and had an assist for Rockford after being out Sunday with an illness. Kevin Lankinen allowed four goals on 17 shots in 27:14, and Collin Delia made 20 saves in relief.
C.J. Suess put Manitoba up 1-0 at 2:58 of the second period with a shot past Lankinen’s glove as Vesalainen barreled over the Rockford goaltender. Vesalainen’s wrist shot on the power play from the left circle made it 2-0 at 3:48. Emile Poirier blasted a one-timer in the high slot past a screened Lankinen for a 3-0 lead at 6:12, and Cole Maier put in a rebound at 7:14 for a 4-0 advantage.
Brandon Hagel scored a wraparound goal for his team-leading 11th goal of the season to make it 4-1 at 12:58.
Nicolas Beaudin cut the deficit to 4-2 at 18:05 with his second career AHL goal. Wedin sent a no-look, between-the-legs pass to the slot for Beaudin, who snapped a shot off Berdin’s blocker then Leon Gawanke’s left shoulder and into the net.
Wedin re-directed Joseph Cramarossa’s shot from the blue line to make it 4-3 at 9:02 of the third period.
Tyler Sikura nearly tied with six seconds remaining with a shot in the slot, but Berdin made a left pad save to secure the win.
Here’s Berdin robbing Sikura of a tying goal in the final seconds of play. #RFDvsMB pic.twitter.com/rMHu6lIeP4
— Greg Boysen 🏒🐷🐺❄️ (@GregBoysen) January 1, 2020
Need to know
The AHL suspended Manitoba forward Ryan White three games for his hit to the head against Philipp Kurashev on Sunday. Kurashev was evaluated Monday and did not play Tuesday. … Wedin has four points (two goals, two assists) in his past four games. … Rockford defenseman Ian McCoshen played in his 200th career game.
What’s next
The IceHogs visit the Iowa Wild at 7 p.m. Friday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.