Fast Facts: Moose at Chicago – March 15

The Manitoba Moose and Chicago Wolves clash tonight (7 p.m. CT) in a crucial between the two clubs. Manitoba enters the contest with a three-point lead over Chicago for the Central Division's final playoff position. The Wolves have a game in hand on the Moose. The antlered ones come into the action having won six of the past seven games, including a 6-0 romp in Milwaukee on Wednesday. Coverage of tonight's tilt gets started at 6:45 p.m. CT on CJOB.com/sports, the Winnipeg Jets App and AHLTV.

Puck Stops Here

Thomas Milic recorded his first AHL shutout on Wednesday against Milwaukee. The netminder made 29 stops in the effort, including 13 in the third period. Milic, a 2023 fifth round Winnipeg Jets selection, has a 4-0-0 mark in March alongside a 2.00 goals-against average and .929 save percentage. That works out to the goaltender making 104 saves on 112 total shots. Milic, who inked a one-year AHL contract with Manitoba in 2023, holds a 9-5-1 record with the Moose this season, paired with a 2.72 goals-against average and .905 save percentage. In seven of the goaltender’s nine wins, Milic has posted at least a .921 save percentage.

Czech This Out

Kristian Reichel registered three points (2G, 1A) on Wednesday. It was the second time in his past six games the Litvinov, Czech Republic native produced a three-point contest. Reichel notched his 50th career AHL goal in the victory and set a new career high in points. The centre recorded 10 points (6G, 4A) over his past 10 games and is up to 27 points (16G, 11A) over the course of 54 games. Reichel is tied for eighth in the AHL in goals since Dec. 10, scoring all 16 of his tallies in the 36 games since that date.

Lucky Number Seven

Simon Lundmark opened the scoring against Milwaukee in Manitoba’s most recent contest. The Stockholm, Sweden product’s tally was his fourth of the campaign, which matches his previous career-high from his rookie season in 2021-22. The goal stood up as the game- winner, the second of Lundmark’s AHL career. The defenceman, a 2019 Winnipeg Jets second round pick, has produced 12 points (4G, 8A) in 50 contests, clearing the double-digit point plateau for the third time in his career. Lundmark has 43 points (11G, 32A) in 171 AHL contests.

Finnish Your Chances

Henri Nikkanen found the back of the net and recorded a plus-two rating on Wednesday morning. The centreman has tallied five points (3G, 2A) his past five contests and is two goals shy of matching his rookie total set in 2022-23. Nikkanen, a 2019 fourth round Winnipeg draft pick, has two three-point AHL contests under his belt and has produced 21 career points (8G, 13A) in 110 contests with Manitoba. Last season saw Nikkanen record three points (1G, 2A) in eight games against Chicago including his first career AHL goal.

Who's Trending?

Ville Heinola notched a pair of assists in Manitoba’s win on Wednesday. The defenceman is currently riding a four-game point streak and has notched five points (2G, 3A) over that span. The Honkajoki, Finland product has posted 14 points (5G, 9A) through 24 contests and matched his previous career- high from 2021-22 with five goals.