The Moose split the first pair of games of this six-game homestand against the Griffins as they concluded ten straight contests against divisional opponents. Now they prepare to face a pair of Canadian teams in their next four starting with a pair against the Abbotsford Canucks this weekend followed by a pair against the Toronto Marlies to close things out at home.
Skate news:
Everyone was present and accounted for today including defenceman Dean Stewart who was dealing with a lower-body injury. Lines and D pairs listed below.
Moose lineup:
Malott – Lambert – AJF
Suess – Toninato – Chibrikov
Viel – Reichel – Ford
Golder – Nikkanen – Jones
Capobianco – Barteaux
Heinola – Lundmark
Sautner – Bauer
Stewart – Kuzmin
Milic & Delia
Playing with “Desperation”:
After the Moose had a 0-10-1 stretch this season they’ve had to scratch and claw their way back to a playoff spot which was done largely by going 9-1-0 recently. But is that mentality hard to maintain? Veteran forward Dominic Toninato said the word they’ve used is desperation.
“Key word we’ve been using is desperation. We’ve been using that for awhile now when we were out of the playoffs and I think it still stands and we’ve got to keep playing that way throughout here. Like I said those two teams are right behind us and anything can happen if we start losing games.”
Asked his fellow Minnesotan C.J. Suess about the concept of playing desperate hockey and the commitment it takes:
“Now that we’ve worked ourselves back into a position we can’t lose that ’cause that’s what’s got us here. I think that desperation has really showed for us kinda made us committed to kinda making playoffs and going far in that regard. So I think it’s kinda sticking to those roots and kinda continuing to play the same way desperately.”
Push for 4th place:
While the focus has been on the Moose getting to the 5th and final playoff spot thanks to their run of late this team has put themselves within striking distance of 4th place Texas who sit six points ahead of Manitoba. If they could get to 4th it would give them home ice advantage in the three-game play-in series. Suess agreed:
“It’s huge. I think you want to get home ice no matter what, play in front of your home fans. At the end of the year you want to win as many games as possible to get yourself in the best position and that’s what we’ve trying to do.”
Media:
Up next:
Manitoba will take on Abbotsford for the first time this season with a pair of matinee games this weekend. Saturday’s puck drop is at 2 PM CDT.
