Fast Facts: Moose at Texas – Oct. 28

One night after the teams clashed in a thrilling game decided by a shootout, the Manitoba Moose and Texas Stars clash once again. The Moose edged out the Stars by a 3-2 count, courtesy of Oskari Salminen's clean sheet and Brad Lambert's winner in the shootout. The win gives Manitoba its first set of consecutive wins on the season and pushes the team above the .500 mark. The Moose try to make it three in a row tonight when the teams face off at 7 p.m. CT.

Coverage of this evening's affair begins at 6:45 p.m. CT on CJOB.com/sports, the Winnipeg Jets App and AHLTV.

Closing In

Jeffrey Viel tallied a second period power play assist in yesterday’s win. The winger is in his first season with Manitoba after spending the previous five with the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda. Viel is inching closer to a trio of career milestones. The assist gives the forward 49 total over his AHL career and also pushes his overall point total to 94. Viel is also five goals away from 50 total in his career.  The forward, who owns 217 games of AHL experience combined between Manitoba and San Jose, also paces the Moose with 12 penalty minutes.

Cap Off the Night

Kyle Capobianco potted a third period power play goal in Friday’s victory. Capobianco is riding a three-game point streak while putting together seven points (4G, 3A). The defenceman, who has recorded two or more shots every game this season, co-leads the Moose in points. He also ranks first on the team in power play goals and multi-goal games. Capobianco, a 2015 third round Arizona pick, has notched 119 points (25G, 94A) in 160 AHL contests between Tucson and Manitoba. The defender is in a tie for 13th overall in league scoring and ranks first among all AHL blue liners in goals scored.

Another Close One

The Moose and Stars are no strangers to tight games. In their past 17 meetings, just three games have been decided by a differential of more than two goals. Just one goal separated the teams in 10 of those games. Overtime was required in eight of games and shootouts were necessary in three contests. Manitoba has excelled in the close matchups, posting a 12-4-1-0 record in those 17 games. During the 2022-23 season, the Moose held a 24-11-6-4 record in games decided by two or less goals. They are 2-2-0-0 under the same conditions early in the 2023-24 campaign.

Seeing Stars

Goaltender Oskari Salminen earned his fifth straight victory against the Texas Stars last night. The Kotka, Finland product hasn’t lost to Texas in his AHL career, posting a 5-0-0 record, supported by a 2.55 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage. Salminen needed to go past regulation to get four of his five victories, but faced a combined four shots in overtime. The netminder has stymied the Stars in the shootout, stopping seven of eight shooters in the skills competition. Salminen is in his second AHL season after recording an 18-13-6 record, with a 3.06 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage in 39 appearances in 2022-23.

Who's Trending?

Wyatt Bongiovanni scored his first of the season in last night’s win. The forward, who is currently skating in his second season with Manitoba, has recorded four points (1G, 3A) through three games played. Bongiovanni  paces the squad with a plus-four rating, is shooting at a clip of 14.3% and ranks fourth on the Moose in overall scoring.