PREVIEW: Getting Into it with Iowa
By: Manitoba Moose Staff | Published: March 3rd 2018
The Manitoba Moose (34-15-4-3) will take on the Iowa Wild (26-17-7-4) tonight at Bell MTS Place. With some key players back in antlers, the Moose will try to get back on a roll, having lost four of their last six games. Tickets are still available at moosehockey.com/tickets/ or you can tune in to TSN 1290 for Mitch Peacock and the pre-game show starting at 6:45 p.m. (CT).
ROSTER MOVES
The Moose have some new additions coming into the weekend. Following the NHL trade deadline, the Winnipeg Jets reassigned forward Nic Petan and defenceman Tucker Poolman to the Moose. Petan leads the current Moose roster with a 1.05 points per game average, and is third on the team with 41 points (12G, 29A). Poolman has suited up for 14 games with the Moose, totaling six points (1G, 5A). The Moose also announced today the team has signed forward Brett Welychka to an amateur tryout agreement. The London, ON native captained the Carleton University Ravens this season while racking up 31 points (12G, 19A) in 28 games.
BACK IN THE GAME
In addition to the reassignments earlier this week, the Jets have also assigned Steve Mason to the Moose on a conditioning loan. The 10-year NHL veteran has been out of the Jets lineup since Jan. 12. Mason has a 3-6-1 record with a 3.52 GAA and 0.897 SV% for Winnipeg this season. The Oakville, ON product previously played three AHL games with Syracuse in 2008-09, posting a 2-1-0 record with a 1.63 GAA and a 0.937 GAA.
WILL HE KEEP ROLLING?
Nic Petan was racing up the AHL's points leader board when he was recalled by the Jets on Feb. 5. The Delta, BC native returns to the Moose on a six-game point streak in the AHL with 10 points (3G, 7A) during that span. At the time of his recall, Petan was 10th in AHL scoring. During his near-month in the NHL, where he scored two goals, Petan fell into a tie for 24th in league scoring.
GOALS, LOTS OF THEM
Brendan Lemieux has the hot stick for the Moose right now. The second-year pro has eight goals in his last nine games, and five in his last four. The Denver, Col. native is fourth on the Moose with 17 goals this season, and leads the team in goals per game (0.47).
LIKE A BOSS-A
Forward Mike Sgarbossa picked up a pair of assists in Sunday’s game against Chicago. The Campbellville, Ont. native has seven points (2G, 5A) in his last eight games. In 54 games this season, Sgarbossa is seventh on the Moose with 34 points (13G, 21A) on the season and is fifth on the club in assists.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Moose and Wild won’t take much time off. They’re back on the ice at Bell MTS Place tomorrow afternoon, at 2 p.m. (CT), with tickets available at moosehockey.com/tickets/.
