Manitoba Moose Weekly
March 7, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release
GOALS FOR:
The Moose have shown tremendous growth and development in their offensive game. The Moose have scored five or more goals five times in their last 13 games including a season high seven goals against the Charlotte Checkers back on Feb. 27 in a 7-2 victory. Manitoba has come a long way since they started, scoring over two more goals per game on average. In October the Moose averaged just 1.38 goals-per-game and last month averaged 3.53 goals-per-game. When you combine that with the tremendous all-star calibre goaltending they have received from Connor Hellebuyck and Eric Comrie the team has produced more wins.
MOOSE SPECIAL TEAMS:
Manitoba scored a powerplay goal for the fifth straight game on Saturday in Texas. In their last 11 games Manitoba's powerplay has gone 11-for-41 for a success rate of 26.8%. The Moose powerplay which once ranked at the bottom of the AHL has now jumped into a tie for 18th and climbing with an overall average of 16.1%. Manitoba has scored at least one powerplay goal in nine of their last 11 games. Not to be outdone, the Moose penalty kill has been spectacular in its own right as in their last 12 games Manitoba has killed off 46 of their last 51 penalties, good for 90.2%.
TOP ROOKIES:
The Moose are the only team in the AHL that have two rookies leading their team in scoring. Only two other teams in the League have a rookie as their leading scorer at this point in the season. Chase De Leo has 15 goals and 16 assists for 31 points and has played in all 58 of Manitoba's games so far this season. De Leo sits tied for 18th among all AHL rookie scorers. Nic Petan is also tied for 18th in AHL rookie scoring from his eight goals and 23 assists for 31 points in 43 games. Petan started the season with the Winnipeg Jets where he played 14 games and scored his first career NHL goal in his very first game. With assists in back-to-back games, Petan leads the Moose in points-per-game average with 0.72.
HECK OF A GOALIE:
The Moose continue to get spectacular goaltending from Connor Hellebuyck. He recorded his second shutout of the season Saturday night in San Antonio and now has eight total in his two seasons in the AHL. Hellebuyck has a 2.35 goals against average and a .928 save percentage in 18 games with the Moose this season. This past Wednesday, Hellebuyck was one of three goaltenders named to the Team North America U-24 team for the World Cup of Hockey 2016.
RETURN OF MORRISSEY:
Josh Morrissey made his NHL debut this past Saturday with the Winnipeg Jets. The rookie defenceman was strong playing 15:54 of ice time and recording a shot. He was re-assigned to the Moose on Sunday.
MOOSE WRAP UP TEXAS SWING
The Moose travelled south this week for a pair of games in the state of Texas, first in San Antonio against the Rampage and followed by a game just outside Austin against the Texas Stars. The Moose will ramp up for a week that will have the team play four games in the next six days against the Iowa Wild and Grand Rapids Griffins.
Friday, Mar. 4, 2016: Manitoba 3 vs. San Antonio 0
The Moose had a terrific effort on Friday night making their first trip to San Antonio this season. Manitoba had a goal in each period from Austen Brassard, Scott Kosmachuk and Ryan Olsen, who scored into an empty net in the third period to seal the victory. Connor Hellebuyck picked up the win making 26 saves and recorded his second shutout of the season. The Moose improved their record against San Antonio to 3-0-0-0 on the season. The two teams will meet once more this season when the Moose travel to San Antonio on April 15th.
Saturday, Mar. 5, 2016: Manitoba 1 vs. Texas 6
Manitoba played their second game in as many nights against the Texas Stars. The AHL's highest scoring team in Texas showed their offence punch on Saturday night. Gemel Smith led the way for the Stars with two goals and an assist for a three point night. Jason Dickinson, Cole Ully, Mattias Backman and Cory Kane had the other goals for Texas. Scott Kosmachuk had the lone goal for the Moose while Connor Hellebuyck made 30 saves. The Moose and Stars will meet one more time this season in the regular season finale on April 16 in Texas.
Mar. 7 & 9 Mar. 11 & 12
The Moose begin the week with a pair of matches against the Iowa Wild on Monday and Wednesday night at the MTS Centre. Manitoba will then hit the road for a pair of back-to-back games against the Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday and Saturday.
SCOTT KOSMACHUK
Moose forward Scott Kosmachuk has started the month of March off right, scoring in back-to-back games. Kosmachuk has now matched his AHL career high in goals (14) which he scored in his rookie season last year with St. John's. His eight goals on the road this year are the most by any Moose player. He is also one assist away from matching his career high in assists which he had last season with 14 and in points with 28.
American Hockey League Stories from March 7, 2016
- Irving Carries Wild Past Moose 2-1 - Iowa Wild
- Griffin Reinhart Recalled by Edmonton - Bakersfield Condors
- Manitoba Moose Weekly - Manitoba Moose
- Texas Stars Weekly Update - Texas Stars
- Rangers Recall Brady Skjei from Hartford on An Emergency Basis - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Defenseman Mark Cundari Loaned to Monsters - Cleveland Monsters
- Syracuse Crunch Sign Ryan Martindale to AHL Contract - Syracuse Crunch
- Annual Wendy's Skate Scheduled for Wednesday, March 9 Moved to the Blue Cross Arena - Rochester Americans
- Heat Acquire Defenseman Sauve from Portland - Stockton Heat
- Comets Acquire Four Time AHL All-Star - Utica Comets
- Checkers Add Jones, Fox from Vancouver Organization - Charlotte Checkers
- Serville Re-Assigned to Tulsa - Manitoba Moose
- Falcons Announce Food Exchange Night - Springfield Falcons
- Ricoh Rock Report - St. John's IceCaps
- Albany Devils Set March Promotional Schedule - Albany Devils
- Wolf Pack Weekly - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Sissons Recalled by Predators - Milwaukee Admirals
- Falcons Weekly - Springfield Falcons
- Providence's Frank Vatrano Named CCM/AHL Player of the Week - AHL
- Rampage Recall Mason Geertsen - San Antonio Rampage
- American Hockey League Announces Suspension - AHL
- Tampa Bay Lightning Lift Suspension of Forward Jonathan Drouin - Syracuse Crunch
- Flames Recall Wotherspoon from Stockton - Stockton Heat
- Checkers Acquire Andrew Miller from Bakersfield - Charlotte Checkers
- Zach Boychuk Loaned to Condors - Bakersfield Condors
- Reign Wrap up Road Trip Wednesday; Return Home for Human Society Night on Saturday - Ontario Reign
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