The Manitoba Moose are wrapping up their road-heavy stretch with a two-game set in Laval, and Friday night’s matchup brought plenty of intrigue - from a debut performance to clutch goaltending and a shootout finish that kept their momentum rolling.
Lineup Shuffle and a Notable Debut
With Elias Salomonsson called up to the Jets, the Moose dipped into their depth chart and brought up defenseman Ben Zloty from the ECHL. But it was Dylan Anhorn who got the nod in the lineup, and he made it count.
The bigger storyline, though, came with the AHL debut of Jacob Julien. The young prospect got his first taste of pro hockey, slotting into a third-line role and beginning what could be an exciting chapter in his development.
Here’s how the Moose lined up:
Forwards:
- Lambert - Yager - Fagemo
- Shaw - Gustafsson - Duehr
- JAD - Julien - Di Giuseppe
- Barlow - Ford - Chibrikov
Defense:
- Heinola - Barteaux
- Anhorn - Clague
- Sautner - Bauer
Goalie:
- Milic
First Period: Trading Blows Early
The opening frame saw both teams find the back of the net once. Laval struck first, capitalizing on one of their 15 first-period shots. But the Moose responded quickly - less than two minutes later, Dylan Anhorn netted his first goal of the season, an ideal way to mark his return to the lineup.
Milic Stands Tall - Again
There’s a reason Thomas Milic was just named an AHL All-Star. The Jets’ goaltending prospect was locked in all night, stopping 34 of 35 shots - including 26 of 27 through the first two periods - and adding two more saves in the shootout. His calm presence and sharp reflexes kept the Moose in the game, especially when Laval pushed hard late in regulation.
And it wasn’t just Milic making noise in net. On the other side, former Manitoba goalie Kaapo Kähkönen delivered a strong performance for the Rocket, matching Milic save-for-save and keeping Laval in it through 65 minutes.
Penalty Kill Comes Up Clutch
With just over two minutes remaining in regulation, the Moose penalty kill faced a critical test - and passed with flying colors. A late Laval power play threatened to tilt the game, but Manitoba’s PK unit held firm, forcing overtime and eventually a shootout.
Shootout Magic: Chibrikov and Lambert Seal It
The Moose have been perfect in shootouts this season - and that trend continued thanks to a pair of Jets prospects. Nikita Chibrikov opened the scoring in the shootout with a slick move that showed off his hands and patience. Then, Brad Lambert used his trademark speed to close it out, burying the game-winner and giving Manitoba the extra point.
Milic, as he has all season, handled his end with poise, stopping two of three Laval attempts to seal the win.
Final Takeaways
This win pushes Manitoba to an 18-14-3 record, keeping them right on Chicago’s heels for second place in the Central Division. They’re now 3-0 in shootouts this season - a stat that speaks to both their skill and composure in high-pressure moments.
No Moose players recorded multi-point games, but this was a team win through and through. From a strong PK effort to timely goaltending and clutch shootout execution, Manitoba continues to show they’re built for tight, competitive games.
They’ll close out this back-to-back in Laval tomorrow afternoon with a 3 PM CST puck drop. If Friday night was any indication, expect another gritty, playoff-style battle.