Manitoba Moose 2018-19
22-21-3-2 49 points (.510), 8th in Central Division, 13th Western Conference
Goals for per game: 2.52 (30th)
Goals against per game: 3.04 (16th)
Powerplay: 30-of-186, 16.1% (28th)
Penalty kill: 159-of-199, 79.9% (21st)
Top 3 Goals:
20 – Logan Shaw
9 – Jansen Harkins
8 – C.J. Suess
8 – Mason Appleton
8 – J.C. Lipon
Top 3 Assists:
28 – Seth Griffith
21 – Michael Spacek
14 – Shaw
Top 3 Points:
35 – Griffith
34 – Shaw
27 – Spacek
If you want a shining example of what home ice advantage can mean for a hockey team, look no further than the 2018-19 Manitoba Moose.
The team currently sits 13th in the AHL’s Western Conference, largely due to an inability to win on the road. In 24 games this year away from Winnipeg, the Moose are 7-13-3-1, scoring just 46 times (lowest in the AHL) and allowing 80. On the flip side, at home they are a respectable 15-8-0-1, scoring 75 and allowing 66. The team hasn’t lost in regulation at home since December 22nd.
Recently, the Moose had a point streak end at nine after once again experiencing some road woes. In a six game stint between January 23rd and February 6th, the team went 2-3-1-0. Not terrible, but it put a solid dent in hopes of reaching the post-season.
In a bit of good news for the club, they are currently two games into another six game home-stand, and have won both games to start the stay. Defender Sami Niku was also recently reassigned to the team, bolstering the squad, while goalie Mikhail Berdin posted a 34-save shutout in his first AHL appearance in a couple of months.
Thanks to the AHL schedule, the remaining Moose schedule looks like this: four straight home games followed by six straight road games followed by six at home followed by five on the road, then four at home, before closing with three on the road.
Seth Griffith recently had an 11-game point streak snapped, but has points in his last two, giving him 18 points in his last 14 games, and he now leads the team with 35 points this season. Logan Shaw has 12 points in his last 13. Top line centre Michael Spacek has been held without a point in his last six outings.
Eric Comrie continues to be a difference maker, with a save percentage of .922 to go along with a 17-13-4 record. He is the team’s best player this year by a wide margin, and is a strong contender for the Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award as the top goaltender in the AHL, which was previously won by former Moose goalie Cory Schneider in 2008-09.
Moose Lines on February 10, 2019
FORWARDS
Jansen Harkins/ Michael Spacek/ J.C. Lipon
Marko Dano/ Logan Shaw/ Seth Griffith
Hunter Fejes/ Chris Collins/ Brent Pedersen
Skyler McKenzie/ Felix Girard/ Kristian Reichel
DEFENCE
Cameron Schilling/ Tucker Poolman
Logan Roe/ Charles-David Beaudoin
Logan Stanley/ Nelson Nogier
GOALIES
Mikhail Berdin
Eric Comrie
Last Five Game Scores (Tied Opposition 11-11)
Friday, February 1
3 Manitoba Moose @
2 Milwaukee Admirals OT
Moose Goals: Girard (1), Shaw (19), Harkins (9)
Goalie: Comrie 27/29
Saturday, February 2
2 Manitoba Moose @
5 Chicago Wolves
Moose Goals: Dano (6), Lipon (8)
Goalie: Comrie 24/29
Wednesday, February 6
1 Manitoba Moose @
2 Grand Rapids Griffins
Moose Goal: McKenzie (5)
Goalie: Comrie 29/31
Saturday, February 9
3 Manitoba Moose vs
2 Texas Stars
Moose Goals: McKenzie (6), Poolman (3), Dano (7)
Goalie: Comrie 30/32
Sunday, February 10
2 Manitoba Moose vs
0 Texas Stars
Moose Goals: Shaw (20), Griffith (7)
Goalie: Berdin 34/34
