Manitoba Moose obliterate the Texas Stars 8-3 as power play is on fire ahead of play-in series

The Moose kick off the last two regular season games in Cedar Park, Texas but they’ll be there for awhile because their play-in series with the Stars will continue next week starting on Tuesday with game 1 of the best of three series.

Lineup news:

Jets prospect Connor Levis (2023 7th) makes his pro debut. And Colby Barlow (2023 1st) back in the lineup. No surprise that Brad Lambert and Nikita Chibrikov given night off after making their NHL debuts in Winnipeg last night while Parker Ford was playing after taking warm-up for the jets but not getting into a game.

After being recalled on Thursday, Oskari Salminen was given the net. His first game since January 20th.

Moose lineup:

Malott – Nikkanen – AJF
Golder – Toninato – Barlow
Viel – Reichel – Ford
Torgersson – Levis– Liwiski

Capobianco – Barteaux
Heinola –Lundmark
Sautner – Stewart

Salminen

Notable:

Thomas Milic replaced Salminen just 15:32 into the 1st after the big Finnish netminder gave up two goals on seven shots. Seemed like it might have been an injury replacement but it wasn’t clear that anything happened to him during the preceding play.

Late in the 1st period the Identity Line strikes to get Moose within one. Kristian Reichel who continues a remarkable season getting his 22nd of the season as he deposits the Ville Heinola rebound.

Fantastic hand-eye coordination from Jeff Malott who (temporarily) ties the team lead for goals with his 22nd of the season. Ville Heinola gets his second assist of the game as Manitoba ties it up 2-2 early in the 2nd.

46 seconds after Jeff Malott tied him for the team lead in goals, Kristian Reichel takes the lead with his 23rd goal of the season to give the Moose a 3-2 lead. Ville Heinola up to three assists in the game as he has assisted on all three Manitoba goals (duh) to this point.

Fresh off taking warm-up skate in the NHL with the Jets last night, Parker Ford gives the Moose a 4-2 lead with his 18th goal of the season.

And then this…FIRST PRO GOAL ALERT as Jets 2023 1st rounder Colby Barlow wired the one-timer to give the Moose a 5-2 lead over the Stars. Also Ville Heinola had 4 assists through 40 minutes.

After there were just two penalties (to the Moose) in the 1st period these two teams erupted for 15 in the middle frame. Should make for a fun next three or four games.

Third straight power play goal for the Moose as Dominic Toninato gets his seventh of the season in the 3rd period to make it 6-2. Six straight goals for Manitoba. And Jeffrey Viel parked right in front causing havoc. Another point for AHL leading Dman for points Kyle Capobianco.

Memo to the Stars: Stop taking penalties against the Moose. Ville Heinola rips it top corner as he gets his fifth point of the game. He’s got double digits in goals with his 10th of season. Manitoba with seven straight goals and they have a 7-2 lead. Four straight power play goals.

Stop me if you’ve heard this before but the Moose scored on the power play. Simon Lundmark makes it 8-2 for the Moose with his fifth goal of the season as Manitoba has scored eight straight goals and five straight goals on the power play. Also Colby Barlow with his first pro assist.

Moose finally give up a goal with 56 seconds left in the game and their lead is cut to 8-3. Thomas Milic had made 16 straight saves in relief before giving up that one.

Multi-point game:

Ville Heinola 1G 4A
Kristian Reichel 2G 1A
Jeff Malott 1G 2A
Colby Barlow 1G 1A
Simon Lundmark 1G 1A
Dominic Toninato 1G 1A
Kyle Capobianco 2A
Jeffrey Viel 2A

Highlights:

Post-game interviews:

Up next:

The Moose will conclude the 2023-24 regular season tomorrow night in a re-match with the Stars.