Preview: Back with the Pack
By: Manitoba Moose Staff | Published: February 15th 2019
Feb. 15, 2019 vs CHICAGO WOLVES
The Manitoba Moose (23-21-3-2) are looking for their fourth straight home series sweep tonight against the Chicago Wolves (27-16-5-1). Visit moosehockey.com/tickets/ to get your tickets for the 7 p.m. CT puck drop. The game will also be broadcast on TSN 1290, moosehockey.com/listenlive/, the Moose App, and streaming live on Facebook for free as the AHL’s Facebook Game of the Week.
After a 4-2 win against the Wolves on Wednesday night, the Moose have extended their home point streak to 11 games with a record of 10-0-0-1 at Bell MTS Place since Dec. 30.
Scoring four times will jump out on the stats sheet but, according to alternate captain JC Lipon, it was the team defence that set the squad up for success in the first meeting.
“I think it was just everyone. From the backend, goaltending, we seemed really in sync. We didn’t spend much time in our zone and guys were in the right spots. We had really good back pressure all night too. With [Chicago], they’re good off transitions and turnovers, and we limited those.”
The Moose attack came from all levels against the Wolves, with three different lines scoring, while the fourth (Felix Girard, Kristian Reichel, and Skyler McKenzie) combined for nine of Manitoba’s 29 shots.
On defence, Jimmy Oligny scored his third assist as a member of the Moose in his return to the Moose lineup after nearly a month-long absence due to injury. Tucker Poolman added to his point streak, and has found the scoresheet in his last six outings, with seven points (1G, 6A) over that stretch.
In net, Eric Comrie recorded his 70th win as a member of the Manitoba Moose which moves him into second all-time in franchise wins behind Cory Schneider (84). The goaltender is also just one win shy of tying his career high for wins in a season (19 in 2016-17). Comrie is tied for second in the AHL with a 0.921 save percentage despite facing over 150 more shots than any other netminder.
Comrie was impressed by the result against the Wolves in the first game of the series, praising his teammates for their hard work.
“I think that was the most complete game we’ve played all year. Just looking back at it, we played an incredible game. We just didn’t give them anything, we were all over them. They played a pretty good game too, we just played that well. We shut them down really well, we generated our chances, and we got the two points which is the most important thing.”
Manitoba finishes off its homestand with back-to-back matinee games against the Milwaukee Admirals (Feb. 17/18). Sunday’s matchup is Follow Your Dreams Day, a celebration of indigenous youth in sport and culture, while Monday’s rematch is Super Hero Day at Bell MTS Place. For tickets to these, or any other Moose home games, head to moosehockey.com/tickets/.
