Fast Facts: Moose at Rockford – Nov. 22

The Manitoba Moose migrate south of the border for the second leg of their six-game road swing. Manitoba picked up two wins during its weekend three-in-three and holds a 4-1-0-0 record on the road this season. The Moose won 4-2 in Toronto to wrap up the three games in Ontario and face the Rockford IceHogs who are coming off two straight wins. Coverage of tonight's game on CJOB.com/sports, the Winnipeg Jets App and AHLTV gets going at 6:45 p.m. CT with puck drop shortly after 7 p.m. CT.

Roster Moves

Netminder Thomas Milic was reassigned to the Norfolk Admirals on Monday. Milic, a 2021 fifth round pick of Winnipeg, appeared in four games for the Moose and posted a 1-1-0 record along with a 3.74 goals-against average and a .877 save percentage. The netminder recorded his first AHL victory on Nov. 17/23 in Belleville on the strength of 26 stops. In six games for the Admirals, Milic registered a 4-0-1 record along with a 2.36 goals-against average and .901 save percentage. Milic was named the ECHL Goaltender of the Week from Oct. 23-29.

Winning Formula

C.J. Suess scored a goal and posted an assist in Manitoba’s Sunday victory. The two points represent the forward’s first multi-point outing of the 2023-24 campaign and the 18th total in his AHL career. Suess has tallied five points (3G, 2A) through 11 contests and each of the three goals he’s scored went on to be the game-winning tally. Suess has now matched the amount of game-winning goals from each of the past two seasons and is one shy  of reaching his career-high of four that he set in 2019-20 with Manitoba in 57 games. The forward finds himself in a tie for third in the AHL with the trio of winners and his 11 total over his Moose career places him in a tie for eighth most in the organization’s history.

Spectating Special Teams

Wednesday night’s battle between Manitoba and Rockford will feature two of the top three power plays in the AHL this season. Manitoba’s checks in at the one spot and has converted 11 goals, which is good for a 26.2% success rate. Rockford checks in at third and has scored 13 goals while clicking at 25.0%. When the Moose power play has converted twice in a single contest this season, the team is a perfect 3-0-0-0. The Moose penalty kill is ranked 27th in the league and sits at 77.4%. However, the penalty kill has only allowed one goal over the past four games despite being shorthanded 15 times in that span.

Impactful Play

Chaz Lucius notched an assist on Sunday against Toronto. The forward, a 2021 first round selection of Winnipeg, has notched three assists over his past two games played and has tallied four points (4A) over his past five contests. Lucius spent time with the Moose in 2022-23 and notched five points (2G, 3A) in 12 games. This season, the forward’s most recent assist brings the pivot to six total points (1G, 5A) in seven games, which represents a new AHL career-high. Lucius is tied for third among Moose rookie scorers and is tied for sixth on the squad in overall points.

Who's Trending?

Nikita Chibrikov notched an empty net goal in Sunday’s win over Toronto. The winger, who is in the midst of his rookie AHL season, leads the Moose with 14 points (5G, 9A) through 13 games. Chibrikov, a 2021 second round pick of Winnipeg, paces Manitoba in both power play assists and shots and ranks third overall in AHL rookie scoring.