Preview: Messing with Texas
By: Manitoba Moose Staff | Published: March 15th 2019
March 15, 2019 vs Texas Stars
The Manitoba Moose (30-26-3-2) are just two points behind the Texas Stars (30-26-4-3) for the fourth and final spot in the Central Division playoff picture. They’ll get a chance at making up those two points tonight at 7 p.m. CT in a rematch of Wednesday’s win. Tickets are available at moosehockey.com/tickets.
Manitoba opened the scoring on Wednesday with Cam Maclise’s second of the season, 3:23 into the second period. Texas struck back and then took the lead themselves on a freak bounce of a stanchion. The Moose seemed to take off after that, scoring twice more in the middle frame, with Felix Girard scoring the eventual game winner with 5:39 left in regulation time.
Girard was asked after the game how Manitoba mentally dealt with the wacky Texas goal in such an important game.
“Things like that happen. Sometimes you’ll get those bounces, sometimes they’re going to go the other way. You’ve got to keep going with the plan. You don’t control those bounces.”
Texas has the top power play unit in the Central Division and second best in all of the AHL, but the Moose penalty kill was up to the task two nights ago. Manitoba shut down all four Texas man advantages in that game and have held them to two goals on 15 opportunities in the six meetings this season.
That has been critical to Manitoba’s 5-1-0-0 record against the Stars this season as the skilled Texas veterans have caused many teams fits all season long.
Maclise explained that with a group like the Stars have, it’s key for the Moose to communicate and be disciplined.
“They have a lot of skill. Some of their guys up front are really smart players; Morin, Dowling, and guys like that. They’re really smart with the puck and when you give them time and space in the d-zone, they’re going to make plays. For us it’s just about talking and sorting it out.”
With a win, Manitoba will move into the fourth and final playoff spot in the Central Division. This is especially impressive when you consider that on Dec. 23, before the club left for their holiday break, they sat last in the entire AHL. The Moose were 13 points behind the playoff spot they’re currently chasing with a 0.414 winning percentage through the first 29 games and only 67 goals in their favour.
In the 32 games since that point, the Moose are 19-10-1-2, good for a 0.641 winning percentage and with 88 goals scored.
“As these games go by and we watch ourselves moving up in the standings it creates some excitement," said Maclise. “It was a pretty long shot at Christmas when you look at the standings, but now there’s some belief. Things are starting to happen for us.”
Tune in to Mitch Peacock and the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m. CT on TSN 1290, moosehockey.com/listenlive/, the Moose App, and streamed live on AHLTV. Next up for the Moose is a two-game set with the San Diego Gulls starting on Sunday at 2 p.m. For tickets, visit moosehockey.com/tickets.
