PREVIEW: Another Round in Milwaukee
By: Manitoba Moose Staff | Published: February 6th 2018
The Manitoba Moose (31-10-3-2) continue their six-game road trip through the Central Division. Tonight, the Winnipeg Jets’ AHL affiliate finishes its two-game set against the Milwaukee Admirals (21-20-4-0). The Moose took Saturday’s game, 5-1, with Eric Comrie in net for the victory. Steve Schuster takes over the play-by-play duties for Mitch Peacock, who’s in Pyeongchang, South Korea to cover the Olympics. The pregame show begins at 6:45 p.m. (CT) and you can tune in on moosehockey.com/listenlive/, or the Moose Mobile App.
GETTING THE CALL
The Winnipeg Jets recalled forwards Brendan Lemieux and Nic Petan on Monday. Lemieux has played eight games with the big club this season, scoring his first career NHL goal Oct. 29 against Pittsburgh. Lemieux has 28 points (12G, 16A) in 30 games with the Moose, this season. He also leads the team with 94 penalty minutes. The Denver, CO native is on a three-game goal streak.
Petan started off the 2017-18 campaign with the Jets, playing in six games. In his NHL career, the 2013 second round pick has 19 points (3G, 16A) in 86 games. Petan has a career high 41 points (12G, 29A) in 39 AHL contests this season, and is currently riding a six-game point streak, with 10 points (3G, 7A) since Dec. 20. His average of 1.05 points per game is second on the club to Jack Roslovic (1.09). The Delta, BC native was also named CCM/AHL player of the week for the period ending Dec. 3.
SPECIAL STREAK
Manitoba’s power play has found the scoresheet in all five of their consecutive wins. The Moose are scoring on 30 per cent of their opportunities (6/20 during that stretch. The power play sits first in the Central, and second in the AHL at 23.5 per cent. It’s also tied for the AHL’s most goals while up a man with 47.
STRONG PLAY FROM SAMI
Sami Niku was red hot this past weekend, totaling five points (1G, 4A) in two games. He tallied two assists in Rockford, including a breakaway pass for Nic Petan on the overtime winner. The following night in Milwaukee, he collected his second three-point (1G, 2A) game of the season. The Haapavesi, Finland native is third among AHL defencemen in scoring with 33 points (9G, 24A) on the season.
THAT'S A PLUS
The Moose are 3-0-0-1 against Milwaukee this season, outscoring them 17-5 in their four meetings. Defenceman Cameron Schilling has two points (1G, 1A) in the four matchups, and is a plus-seven rating against the Admirals. Schilling leads the AHL with a +36 rating this season.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Moose are right back at it tomorrow night in Grand Rapids. Manitoba are 2-2-1-0 against the Griffins this season. Wednesday’s coverage starts at 5:45 p.m. (CT) with the pre-game show on TSN 1290, moosehockey.com/listenlive/, and the Moose Mobile App.
