PREVIEW: Taking on the Top Dog

The Manitoba Moose (39-22-4-4) take a shot at the top team in the AHL when the Toronto Marlies (48-18-1-1) hit the ice at Bell MTS Place tonight. The Moose won both previous meetings in November 2-1 and 5-1, on back-to-back nights. Michael Hutchinson was stellar in those games, stopping 66 of 68 shots, while Manitoba’s penalty kill shut down all 10 of the Marlies’ power plays. Head to moosehockey.com/tickets/ for tickets and then head downtown for the 7 p.m. puck drop.

BUDDY HITTING NEW HEIGHTS
With a helper on Brody Sutter’s third period goal on Wednesday, Buddy Robinson recorded his 25th assist and 50th point of the campaign. It’s the first time Robinson has hit 50 points in a single season in his career. Robinson has set career highs in all three offensive categories with his previous best output set at 34 (12G, 22A) in 2014-15. The last time the Moose saw the Marlies, The Bellmawr, NJ native notched three points (2G, 1A) in the 5-1 win on Dec. 17.

NIKU KEEPS CLIMBING
Sami Niku’s impressive season has him tied with Brendan Kichton’s franchise mark for the most points by a rookie defender at 48. Niku has 14 goals and 34 assists on the campaign and is +16 through 69 games. The native of Haapavesi, Finland is currently riding a three-game point streak and leads the AHL in rookie defencemen scoring

TAKING THE NORTH
The Moose have been dominant against the North Division this season. Manitoba has yet to lose a game in regulation to the North, with a record of 8-0-1-1 against the Toronto Marlies, Belleville Senators, and Laval Rocket. The Moose have outscored those teams 39-20 in those 10 previous meetings, and have won the last eight contests.

MAN OF THE YEAR
Darren Kramer was named the team’s winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Winnipeg community during the 2017-18 season. Kramer donated his time to many of the team’s initiatives including St.Amant Foundation and True North Youth Foundation. To read more on all the ways he’s impacted the community, please visit here.

ROSTER MOVES
The Manitoba Moose Hockey Club announced yesterday that the team has signed defenceman Justin Woods to a professional tryout agreement. Woods played four seasons with the University of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks, scoring 47 points (18G, 29A) and 105 penalty minutes in 133 games. Manitoba also reassigned goaltender Colton Phinney to the Indy Fuel (ECHL).

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Moose and Marlies get right back at it, tomorrow afternoon. Saturday’s matchup is the club’s Autism Awareness Day with an auction of specialty game-worn jerseys. All proceeds will benefit the St.Amant Foundation, and their autism programming. For tickets, head to moosehockey.com/tickets/.