Preview: The Champs are Here
By: Manitoba Moose Staff | Published: December 14th 2018
Dec. 14, 2018 vs TORONTO MARLIES
The Manitoba Moose (11-12-2-0) take on the reigning Calder Cup Champions, the Toronto Marlies (10-10-3-2) tonight at Bell MTS Place. The 7 p.m. (CT) puck drop will be available on moosehockey.com/listenlive/ and the Moose App. The game will also be streamed for free on Facebook as the AHL’s Facebook Watch Game of the Week.
The Moose have just returned from their two-week, six-game swing through California to play their next six in downtown Winnipeg. Manitoba went 2-3-1-0 on the trip despite a constantly changing lineup due to injuries and call-ups.
Eric Comrie, who was in net for both wins, said there were challenges, but he was impressed with how well the players pressed into duty fared.
“You have different communications - you’re not really sure what they want, where they want the puck when I’m standing behind the net and things like that. But, I mean, they did such a good job. They came in and played so great. You can see why Jacksonville was a good team this year down in the ECHL, because all our call ups have come up here and contributed really well.”
Manitoba will be happy to be home, where they’re 6-4-0-0 this season. Rookie forward C.J. Suess, who enters today’s action riding a two-game goal streak, was asked about why the team has been successful at Bell MTS Place.
“Sticking to one or two good things that make us who we are. That’s being hard on the forecheck and playing as a unit. Sticking to our systems and really coming together and battling through those close games. When it’s 1-1, 2-2, having that little extra push that can get us the win.”
In Toronto, the Moose find an opponent in a similar place in the standings. Both clubs are fighting to get back into the playoff picture, but have had periods of success throughout the early part of the campaign. Historically Manitoba has had trouble with Toronto. Despite splitting the season series in 2017-18, the Marlies hold a 16-3-1-0 record since the Moose returned to Manitoba in 2015.
Comrie is one of a few players who have seen all of those meetings.
“They’re always a good team. They know how to win hockey games at the American Hockey League level. We’ll see how it goes, I’m really excited to play against them.”
Saturday night’s rematch is the annual Teddy Bear Toss in support of the Christmas Cheer Board and presented by Red River Co-op. Tickets are nearly sold out for that one, but you can still get yours at moosehockey.com/tickets.
