Fast Facts: Moose vs. Chicago – Feb. 26

The Moose host the division-leading Chicago Wolves as they continue a nine-game home stand. Manitoba tries to break out of a two-game skid while Chicago rolls in with a pair of wins under its belt. It's Country Music Day at Canada Life Centre featuring the musical stylings of the Big City All-Star Band. Fans in attendance have the chance to win Chris Stapleton tickets as well. Tickets for today's 2 p.m. contest are available at MooseHockey.com/TICKETS. Coverage of today's contest gets going at 1:45 p.m. on CJOB.com/sports, AHLTV and the Manitoba Moose App.

Jones-ing for More

Nicholas Jones has been heating up offensively. The forward recorded two assists his past three games and recently tied a career high with his 10th helper of the campaign. Jones is up to 15 points (5G, 10A) over the course of 34 games. The forward’s previous career high was 19 points (9G, 10A) set back in the 2019-20 season with the Hartford Wolf Pack. Jones has registered three multi-point games this season with the Moose and is one shy of the career-high four he put up with Hartford in 2019-20.

Heating Up

Mikey Eyssimont is finding his offensive stride as the season rolls on. The Littleton, Col. product has assists in consecutive contests and has three points (1G, 2A) over the course of his past four games. Eyssimont is up to 19 points (8G, 11A) in 33 games for the Moose this season. The forward’s previous career-high came with the Ontario Reign during the 2019-20 season. He recorded 28 points  (12G, 16A) in 56 games. Eyssimont is a shooting machine and has racked up 126 shots on goal this season. That mark is first on Manitoba this season places Eyssimont in the AHL’s top-10, averaging 3.8 shots per game.

Power Play Prowess

The Moose power play has found its groove the last handful of games. Manitoba has recorded a goal on the man advantage in seven consecutive games and has eight power play goals total in that span. That run began on Feb. 8 against the Texas Stars and currently rolls through Wednesday’s game against Milwaukee. Six different Moose skaters have scored on the man advantage over this current run including Cole Maier, Matt Alfaro, Leon Gawanke, Mikey Eyssimont, Dean Stewart and Jeff Malott. Both Maier and Gawanke are the only players to record multiple power play goals over that span. Manitoba’s power play is clicking at 19.3% on the season and has recorded 31 goals through the campaign.

Saturday’s Alright for Hockey

Manitoba has played a game on every day of the week this season and have suited up for 13 games on the first day of the weekend. Forward Cole Maier loves to play on Saturday and has racked up 11 of his 21 points, including five  goals, on Saturday. Maier also leads the squad in shots taken on Saturday with 32 with the next closest Moose being Mikey Eyssimont with 26. On the blueline, the team is led on Saturday by Johnathan Kovacevic. The defenceman has registered seven points (2G, 5A) in nine Saturday contests. Between the pipes Mikhail Berdin has a record of 4-1-0 on Saturday while sporting a 2.21 goals-against average and a save percentage of .920 in those contests.

Who's Trending?

Forward Isaac Johnson notched an assist  in Manitoba’s loss on Wednesday against Milwaukee. Johnson has two assists his past two games played and is now up to four points (1G, 3A) in 10 games in his AHL rookie season. Johnson had 12 points (9G, 3A) in 20 games with the ECHL’s Newfoundland Growlers prior to being recalled by the Moose.