Preview: Rematch with Milwaukee
By: Manitoba Moose Staff | Published: January 16th 2019
Jan. 16, 2019 vs MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS
The Manitoba Moose (16-18-2-1) wrap up their two-game series with the Milwaukee Admirals (19-14-6-1) tonight at 7 p.m. CT. For tickets, head to moosehockey.com/tickets/. If you can’t make it down to Bell MTS Place, tune in on TSN 1290, moosehockey.com/listenlive/, the Moose App, or on AHLTV.
Downtown Winnipeg has worked wonders for the two teams that play there in the last few weeks. Since Christmas, the Jets and Moose are a combined 9-2-0-1 at home, including five straight nights without a regulation loss leading into tonight’s contest.
It was just two nights ago the Manitoba Moose scored a 3-2 overtime win against these same Admirals. It was the third meeting between the Central Division rivals and the second consecutive win for the Moose over Milwaukee in OT.
Seth Griffith extended a season-long, three-game point streak (1G, 3A) with an assist and the game winner. Having battled back in the third to tie their last two games, Griffith was asked what’s different on the bench that has resulted in the team’s timely scoring.
“As of late I think guys are having a lot more fun. We’re relaxed on the bench. We’re joking around. It can’t be serious the full time, you’ve got to have fun out there too. I think it’s just a good mix of take it serious when the puck drops. You can joke around in between whistles, have a good laugh here and there.”
Logan Shaw turned in an assist on Griffith’s goal and leads the team with 25 points this season (14G, 11A). Tonight’s game will be Shaw’s 25th since joining Manitoba. Before signing with the Moose, the Glace Bay, NS native also faced off against Milwaukee once while with the San Diego Gulls. Shaw’s caused the Admirals fits, putting up a goal and an assist in each of the two games.
Another major factor in Monday’s success was Manitoba’s Eric Comrie. Since the holiday break, Comrie has started seven of eight games and faced over 30 shots in all of them. Over that same span, Manitoba’s starting goalie secured his first and second shutouts of the season (Dec. 30/Jan. 10). The fourth-year Moose has faced more shots than any other goaltender in the AHL this season (841) and has also made the most saves (773).
Head Coach Pascal Vincent spoke about his netminder’s work ethic after the in the opener of the series against Milwaukee.
“What you see, is what we see every day in practices, and you see it in games. He’s a guy that is always working hard. He’s got the ability to be a difference maker, and he was tonight.”
Comrie’s career-high 0.919 save percentage on the campaign ranks him fifth in the league, while the Admirals Troy Grosenick sits third at 0.924.
The Moose close out their six-game home stand this weekend against the San Antonio Rampage. Head to moosehockey.com/tickets/ to join the Moose for Grassroots Hockey Day (Jan. 19) and Star Wars Day (Jan. 20). As a bonus, the first 3,000 fans in the building on Saturday will receive a Mason Appleton mini bobblehead.
