Comier Shines in Victory Over Wild, 5-2
DES MOINES, IA – Evan Comier made 27 saves as the Manitoba Moose defeated the Iowa Wild, 5-2. Cole Maier led the Moose with a goal and assist. Nick Swaney and Kyle Rau each had a goal and an assist for Iowa. The loss dropped the Wild to 1-4-1 in their last six games as they are currently in last place in the Central Division.
Manitoba scored two goals in the first period to jump out to the lead. Simon Lundmark got the scoring going at 10:26. Maier passed the puck to Lundmark at the right faceoff circle, who blasted a one-timer by Wild netminder Zane McIntyre for his third goal of the year.
With 2:21 left in the period, Nicholas Jones extended the lead to two. Nelson Nogier took a shot that was saved by McIntyre, but Jones gathered the rebound, tucking in the backhand for his sixth goal of the year.
Manitoba had dominated the first period, not only holding the two-goal lead but had outshot the Wild, 14-5. Iowa began to put the pressure on in the second and were able to cut the deficit to one just before the eight-minute mark. The Wild won the draw inside the Manitoba end. Victor Rask moved the puck to Rau who took a shot that Comier saved, but Swaney dove to knock the loose puck past the Moose netminder and in for his 13th goal of the year.
Bobby Lynch restored the two-goal advantage just before the 14-minute mark. The Moose were on the power-play when Declan Chisholm passed the puck to Lynch at the left faceoff circle. He blasted a one-timer by McIntyre for his sixth goal of the year.
Rau cut the deficit back to one with exactly one minute left in the period. Turner Ottenbreit took a shot that Rau deflected past Comier for his 16th goal of the year.
Iowa was back in the game, but Manitoba dashed their hopes when Mikey Eyssimont scored on a breakaway just 29 seconds later. His 11th goal of the year made it 4-2.
The Moose sealed the victory when Maier scored his 15th goal of the year 8:47 into the third period. The Manitoba forward stole the puck inside the Wild zone, then beat McIntyre from the left faceoff circle to make it 5-2.
The loss dropped the Wild to 23-25-7, last place in the Central Division. Manitoba moved to 32-17-5, second place in the division. These two teams will square off again on Sunday. The puck drops at 3:00.
By Robert Pannier
