Preview: Moose vs. San Antonio – Dec. 22

Moose vs. San Antonio – Bell MTS Place – 2 p.m. CT
Broadcast: moosehockey.com/listenlive, AHLTV

The Moose round out the unofficial first half of the AHL schedule tonight against the San Antonio Rampage. Game number 33 of the campaign brings Manitoba to the holiday break as the Moose look to pull themselves within a game of the .500 mark.

The club currently features a 15-17-0-0 mark through 32 outings. On Dec. 22, 2018, the Moose held an 11-16-2-0 mark through 29 games. The team was at the bottom of the standings and well out of a playoff spot, and went on to post a brilliant second half to fall just two points short of a berth. This season, there won't be a magical run required to stay in the conversation. The Moose are tied with the Chicago Wolves for the Central Division's fourth and final playoff spot. Of course, there are five teams within five points of that position, and four teams within two points.

The Moose try for their second straight win tonight as they host the Rampage. Manitoba comes into the game having won four straight against their divisional rivals. Bell MTS Place has been a bastion for the Moose against the Rampage. The antlered ones hold a 13-0-0-0 record at home against San Antonio since returning to Winnipeg. The Moose continued to improve that mark last night with a 6-4 victory against the Rampage.

Manitoba scored four times in the first period, getting goals from Cole Maier, Skyler McKenzie and a pair from Seth Griffith. The Moose looked well on their way to a convincing victory when things got a little hairy in the third. San Antonio scored four times in the final 11 minutes, but the C.J. Suess struck for the eventual game-winner and Griffith completed the hat trick.

"We took advantage of our chances," Moose head coach Pascal Vincent said following the win. "I thought the third period we didn't have a lot of juice in the tank, but we can be smarter than that."

Griffith's hat trick was the second of the season for the veteran forward. It marks the first time the Wallaceburg, Ont. product has recorded three goals multiple times in a season. Griffith is up to 15 goals on the campaign, which leads the Moose and is tied for third in the AHL. He needs to score just once more to match his 69-game total from last season.

C.J. Suess also has the touch right now with goals in each of his past four games. The second-year pro set a new career mark with his ninth of the campaign last night. With Jansen Harkins recalled to the Winnipeg Jets, Suess is stepping up to fill the offensive void. According to the Forest Lake, Minn. product, his game isn't changing as the offence starts to flow.

"I kind of just want to just stick to my game and keep playing the way I have been," Suess explained. "I think I've been playing the same way throughout and now the points are starting to come."

Santa is back on the Bell MTS Place concourse today to take photos with fans. Printed/digital copies will be provided. Special holiday drinks will also be available at select concessions.

Tickets for today’s 2 p.m. CT matchup are available at moosehockey.com/tickets. Coverage of the matinee affair on moosehockey.com/listenlive and AHLTV begins at 1:45 p.m. CT.