Manitoba Moose 2019-20
1-7-0-0 2 points (.125), 8th in Central Division, 14th Western Conference
Goals for per game: 1.71 (30th)
Goals against per game: 3.75 (26th)
Powerplay: 1-of-28, 3.6% (30th)
Penalty kill: 29-of-37, 78.4% (26th)
Top 3 Goals:
3 – Logan Shaw
2 – Jansen Harkins, Cameron Schilling
Top 3 Assists:
4 – Seth Griffith
2 – Five Players
Top 3 Points:
5 – Shaw, Griffith
3 – Jansen Harkins, Schilling, Johnathan Kovacevic, Michael Spacek
Goalies
Mikhail Berdin – 1-2-0, .898 Sv %, 3.21 GAA, 0 shutouts
Adam Carlson – 0-2-0, .863 Sv %, 3.52 GAA, 0 shutouts
Meanwhile, back at the ranch…
Things are not looking good the the Manitoba Moose, farm team of everyone's favourite NHL team (the Winnipeg Jets for those keeping track at home).
Mired in a six game slump, the team finds themselves deep within the AHL’s basement. They’re well below average in scoring, goals allowed, power play, penalty kill, and goaltending to name just a few.
Top scorer Logan Shaw was recently recalled to fill the hole left by Adam Lowry’s suspension, so things are a little rougher as well. If the Moose hope to get him back at some point, the veteran will have to clear waivers. Sami Niku is working his way back from injury, which would help a defence corps missing Logan Stanley as well.
Johnathan Kovacevic, Luke Green and Leon Gawanke have each benefited from the injuries to the Moose defenders, having played five, four and four games respectively. Kovacevic has a goal and two helpers, Gawanke has one assist while Green remains in search of his first point of the season.
In their last four games, the Moose have averaged six penalty kills per game, aided by a whopping 10 in their first game against the Iowa Wild. It seems pretty obvious to say, but it’s hard to win games when you’re constantly short-handed. Well, not constantly, as the Moose allowed seven goals in those 24 opportunities, as the penalty kill failed to bail out those people taking penalties. When the Moose were the ones fortunate enough to play with an extra skater, they capitalized just once on 16 chances. In fact, that one goal was their only power play goal in 28 chances this season, which somehow only makes them second worst in the league (the Rockford IceHogs are 0-for-28).
I mentioned it last time, but there are some key figures who are not contributing offensively this year. Kristian Vesalainen has two assists in eight games, C.J. Suess has one goal in eight games and J.C. Lipon has one of each in eight games. Joona Luoto? One assist. Andrei Chibisov? One of each. Seth Griffith has five points, but just one goal on 13 shots.
Mikhail Berdin’s save percentage is a lowly .898, but when you’re short-handed a bunch, that’s going to happen.
The Moose have a pair of matinees this weekend at home against the Grand Rapids Griffins, with games starting at 2 p.m. on both Saturday, November 2nd, and Sunday, November 3rd.
Moose Lines on October 26, 2019
FORWARDS
C.J. Suess / Michael Spacek / Seth Griffith
Kristian Vesalainen / Logan Shaw / J.C. Lipon
Emile Poirier / Jansen Harkins / Andrei Chibisov
Joona Luoto / Ryan White / Skyler McKenzie
DEFENCE
Cameron Schilling / Johnathan Kovacevic
Peter Stoykewych / Leon Gawanke
Jimmy Oligny / Nelson Nogier
GOALIES
Adam Carlson
Mikhail Berdin
Last Four Game Scores (Outscored by Opponents 18-7)
Friday, October 18
4 Manitoba Moose vs
6 Iowa Wild
Moose Goal: Kovacevic (1), Lipon (1), Spacek (1), Suess (1)
Goalie: Berdin 37/42
Saturday, October 19
2 Manitoba Moose vs
4 Iowa Wild
Moose Goals: Shaw (3), Schilling (2)
Goalie: Berdin 33/36
Friday, October 25
1 Manitoba Moose @
4 Grand Rapids Griffins
Moose Goal: Harkins (2))
Goalie: Berdin 18/21
Saturday, October 26
0 Manitoba Moose @
4 Chicago Wolves
Moose Goals: None
Goalie: Carlson 15/18
