Manitoba Moose 2019-20
10-10-0-0 20 points (.500), 7th in Central Division, 12th Western Conference
Goals for per game: 2.80 (19th)
Goals against per game: 2.85 (14th)
Powerplay: 12-of-62, 19.4% (10th)
Penalty kill: 63-of-77, 81.8% (16th)
Top 3 Goals:
8 – Seth Griffith
6 – Jansen Harkins
4 – Four Players
Top 3 Assists:
16 – Harkins
9 – Sami Niku
8 – Andrei Chibisov
Top 3 Points:
22 – Harkins
15 – Griffith
12 – Niku, Chibisov
Goalies
Mikhail Berdin – 10-8-0, .924 Sv %, 2.50 GAA, 2 shutouts
Adam Carlson – 0-2-0, .863 Sv %, 3.52 GAA, 0 shutouts
Griffen Outhouse – 0-0-0, .833 Sv %, 3.32 GAA, 0 shutouts
It was bound to happen sooner or later, but after seven straight wins the Manitoba Moose finally lost this weekend in a pair of games to the AHL-leading Toronto Marlies.
The Moose have crawled out of the AHL basement and now sit just outside of playoff position (and were in playoff position prior to the losses).
With Joona Luoto, Michael Spacek and Logan Shaw up with the Winnipeg Jets, and Seth Griffith missing the last three games after taking a shot to the face on the 17th, the forward depth of the team has been a bit depleted of late, which is why terrific goaltending from Mikhail Berdin and continued strong play from Jansen Harkins has come in handy.
During the win streak, Berdin turned aside 253 of 259 shots faced, which works out to a .977 save percentage during that stretch. He also had a dust-up with Jordan Nolan of the San Antonio Rampage, which led to this terrific sound bite:
Moose goalie Mikhail Berdin's thoughts on yesterdays altercation with #Rampage forward Jordan Nolan… pic.twitter.com/WoqxixVKOR
— Russ Hobson (@russ_sportsguy) November 19, 2019
Berdin had an eventful couple of weeks. In no, particular order, there was this wardrobe malfunction:
Oh man. I cannot recall seeing that before. Mikhail Berdin went to make a save and his pad literally blew off his leg. Whistle quickly went. #AHL #MBMoose pic.twitter.com/XO2a2hyz9S
— Dave Minuk (@ICdave) November 21, 2019
He damn near scored a goal:
ICYMI: #MBMoose Goaltender Mikhail Berdin came incredibly close to scoring a goal last night🤯 pic.twitter.com/d9zIFqaKdt
— Austin Siragusa (@GooseOnTheMoose) November 12, 2019
And was named AHL Player of the Week:
With a 1.24 GAA and a .967 save percentage, @ManitobaMoose goaltender Mikhail Berdin is the @CCMHockey / AHL Player of the Week.
Details: https://t.co/VzHqwn80QR pic.twitter.com/d3KgV02CQA
— AHL (@TheAHL) November 18, 2019
Harkins had a 10-game point streak come to an end on Saturday, but the drought only lasted a game as he picked up an assist on Sunday. Harkins, 22, is tied for third in the AHL with 22 points this year.
Sami Niku had an eight game point streak going, but has been held off the scoresheet in four straight games. Niku, who had 12 points in 20 AHL games last year, reached that total in just 11 games this year. Oh, and he hasn’t been called up, in case anybody’s wondering.
The Moose were a perfect 4-0-0 in their recent home stand, and are approaching the halfway point of a seven game road trip. Next up is the Milwaukee Admirals on Wednesday. Milwaukee is on a 10-game win streak, and have outscored opponents 47-24 in that stretch, including a 6-4 effort against Manitoba in which Berdin was pulled after giving up five goals on 31 shots in two periods of play.
Logan Stanley returned to action after missing more than a month with a “mid body” injury, and Moose captain Peter Stoykewych has been back for four games after missing nearly three weeks. Stanley has one goal and one assist in six games this year, while Stoykewych has one assist in 12 games.
Leon Gawanke scored his first goal as a pro against the Rampage on the 17th, and has one goal and three assists in 10 games this year.
C.J. Suess has just four points in 18 games this season, and has shot the puck just 24 times.
Kristian Vesalainen has eight points in his last 11 games, after just two points in his first nine games of the year, as he slowly finds his offense despite an ever changing array of linemates.
Seth Griffith continues to lead the team in goals with eight, and could return Wednesday against Milwaukee.
Moose Lines on November 24, 2019
FORWARDS
Andrei Chibisov / Jansen Harkins / Emile Poirier
Kristian Vesalainen / Cole Maier / J.C. Lipon
Skyler McKenzie / C.J. Suess / Derek Hulak
Brent Pedersen / Nathan Todd / Hunter Fejes
DEFENCE
Cameron Schilling / Johnathan Kovacevic
Logan Stanley / Nelson Nogier
Peter Stoykewych / Sami Niku
GOALIES
Mikhail Berdin
Griffen Outhouse
Last Six Game Scores (Outscored Opponents 14-13)
Wednesday, November 13
2 Manitoba Moose vs
1 Texas Stars
Moose Goals: Vesalainen (2), Poirier (2)
Goalies: Berdin 36/37
Friday, November 15
2 Manitoba Moose vs
1 San Antonio Rampage OT
Moose Goals: Chibisov (3), Griffith (8)
Goalie: Berdin 45/46
Sunday, November 17
5 Manitoba Moose vs
2 San Antonio Rampage
Moose Goals: Maier 2 (3), Chibisov (4), Vesalainen (3), Gawanke (1)
Goalie: Berdin 35/37
Wednesday, November 20
2 Manitoba Moose @
1 Belleville Senators
Moose Goals: Todd (1), Poirier (3)
Goalie: Berdin 38/39
Saturday, November 23
2 Manitoba Moose @
4 Toronto Marlies
Moose Goals: Vesalainen (4), McKenzie (2)
Goalie: Berdin 18/22
Sunday, November 24
1 Manitoba Moose @
4 Toronto Marlies
Moose Goal: Harkins (6)
Goalie: Berdin 25/28
