Fast Facts: Moose at Texas – Feb. 9

The Moose try for the sweep of their three-game set against Texas when the teams clash again tonight. Manitoba scored a 3-2 overtime victory last night at H-E-B Center. Jimmy Oligny scored the winner after Curtis McKenzie stunned the Moose by forcing overtime via a goal with 0.1 seconds left on the clock. It was the teams second straight game requiring extra time to decide a winner. Coverage of this evening's affair gets going at 6:45 p.m. CT on CJOB.com/sports, AHLTV and the Manitoba Moose App.

Penalty Kill Prowess

Special teams play has been a big strength of the Moose squad this season. In yesterday’s overtime win against the Texas Stars,  the Moose found themselves shorthanded eight total times. The boys in antlers were able to kill off all eight Stars power plays and raised their overall penalty killing percentage to 85% on the season. That figure ranks the Moose fourth overall in the AHL this season and second in the Central Division. The eight penalties are surprisingly not a Moose season high, as they went to the box nine times on Jan. 15 against Grand Rapids. The Moose killed eight of those nine opportunities in a 2-1 shootout victory.

Stepping Up

All season long, the Moose have had a next man up mentality as they battled through adversity. In yesterday’s win against Texas, Ty Pelton-Byce made an impact with his first goal of the season. The forward’s tally came with 25 seconds left in the first period and tied the contest heading into the first intermission. The primary assist on that goal came from Tyler Boland. It was the forward’s first professional point in his sixth game since turning pro off the University of New Brunswick roster. Jimmy Oligny elevated his play and ended the contest on a spectacular move to power the Moose to an overtime win. The goal was Oligny’s fourth of the season and first professional overtime winner of the defenceman’s career.

Leading the Charge

Nicholas Jones is currently up to 13 points (5G, 8A) in 28 games this season and has been at his best whenever the Moose tangle with the Stars. The Edmonton, Alta. product leads the Moose with seven points (1G, 6A) in six games against Texas this season and is large reason Manitoba is undefeated in six games against their Central Division foes this year. Jones, who had a pair of assists in the overtime victory, has now eclipsed his previous Moose-high of 11 points (2G, 9A) which he set last season in 35 games.  Jones is chasing down his 61-game career-high of 19 points (9G, 10A) set in his rookie season of 2019-20.

New Career-High

Cole Maier snapped a six-game goalless drought by finding twine with a power play marker in last night’s win. The tally set a new career-high for Maier, who had recorded eight goals the previous season. The forward is now up to 17 points (9G, 8A) in 36 games and sits fifth overall in Moose scoring. Maier’s nine goals rank second on the Moose and last night’s power play goal was his first of the season on the man-advantage. The Pequannock, N.J. product is tied for first on the Moose with seven even strength goals.

Who's Trending?

Leon Gawanke recorded an assist in the Moose 3-2 overtime win against Texas last night. Gawanke has now registered 21 points (5G, 16A) in 34 games and is tied for the lead in Moose scoring. The defencdman is closing in on his career-high of 26 points (4G, 22A) that he set over 48 games in 2019-20 with Manitoba.