WINNIPEG, MB – The Iowa Wild (21-33-3-4, 49 points) defeated the Manitoba Moose (18-33-4-5, 45 points) 4-2 in front of 6,735 fans at The MTS Centre on Wednesday night. The Wild scored four times in the games first 29:43 of play and cruised to its first three-game winning streak of the season. Captain Maxime Fortunus led the charge with a goal and two assists for three points, as Iowa posted to its fifth straight win over Manitoba this season. Center Rob Bordson posted a multi-point night as Iowa improved 
to 3-3-0-0 on its current seven-game road trip. Iowa goalie Steve Michalek (6-2-0) picked up the win, he finished with 18 saves for the win. Moose goalie Connor Hellebuyck (6-12-1) made 14 saves on 18 shots and was pulled in the second period, taking the loss. Iowa travels to Milwaukee to face the Admirals at 7 p.m. on Friday.
The Wild struck for the game’s first goal just 3:12 into the first period. Center Tyler Graovac found Zack Mitchell along the right-wing wall in the Moose zone. Mitchell slipped a drop pass to the blueline for Maxime Fortunus. The Iowa defenseman blasted a one-timer past goalie Connor Hellebuyck for his sixth goal of the year and a 1-0 Wild lead. Iowa made it 2-0, scoring off an odd-man rush at 12:41 with Zach Palmquist’s fourth goal of the season. Fortunus sprung center Rob Bordson down the right side in the Moose zone. Bordson found Palmquist trailing on the play, sending a pass to the Moose slot. Palmquist cranked a one-timer past Hellebuyck for the two-goal cushion after one period of play.
The Wild lead grew to 3-0 with a five-on-three power-play goal by Jordan Schroeder at 1:17 of the second period. Defenseman Christian Folin found Schroeder at the bottom of the left-wing circle. Schroder snapped a wrist shot over the shoulder of Hellebuyck, beating him short side for his 14th goal of the year. Center Grayson Downing added an assist on the play. Iowa made it 4-0 at 9:43 after Rob Bordson’s seventh tally of the season. Left wing Brett Bulmer played the puck to the Manitoba blueline for Fortunus, who snapped a pass to Bordson in the corner. Bordson lifted a wrist shot over the shoulder of the Hellebuyck for the 4-0 lead. The goal marked the end of Hellebuyck’s night with 14 saves on 18 shots. Eric Comrie came in for the relief effort.
In the third, the Moose made a late charge, spoiling the shutout bid at 10:50, as Patrice Cormier jammed in a rebound for the 4-1 score. Danny DeSalvo had the lone assist on Cormier’s 13th goal of the year. The Moose cut the deficit in half with 2:42 remaining in the game. Forwards Jiri Fronk and Ryan Olsen set up Nic Petan in the high slot, as he scored his ninth goal of the year for the 4-2 final.
You must be logged in to post a comment.