Stars Complete Sweep, Leapfrog Moose in Central Division Showdown
The Manitoba Moose rolled into their rematch against the red-hot Texas Stars with a clear mission: stop the streak and hold the line in the Central Division standings. Texas came in riding a six-game win streak, and while Manitoba still holds three games in hand, this was the kind of game that could swing momentum in a hurry. Unfortunately for the Moose, the Stars had other plans-and they executed them with precision.
Lineup Tweaks and Key Absences
There were a few roster shuffles heading into this one. Fabian Wagner drew into the lineup in place of Jacob Julien, while Thomas Milic got the start in net, with Domenic DiVincentiis backing him up. Up front, Samuel Fagemo swapped in for Jansen Harkins (JAD), and Walker Duehr remained sidelined for a fifth straight game with a lower-body injury.
Moose Lines and Pairings
Forwards:
- Shaw - Gustafsson - Chibrikov
- Lambert - Ford - Di Giuseppe
- Barlow - Zhilkin - JAD
- Wagner - Yager - Fagemo
Defense:
- Heinola - Salomonsson
- Phillips - Clague
- Sautner - Bauer
Goaltender:
- Thomas Milic
A Disciplined Start, But Texas Strikes First
This one started with a much cleaner pace compared to the usual physicality we see in Central Division battles. Both teams played disciplined hockey, and that suited the Moose just fine-they’re one of the AHL’s best penalty-killing teams on the road.
Thomas Milic, the Jets’ goaltending prospect and Moose All-Star, made an early statement with a clutch stop in the opening minutes. Manitoba thought they had broken through just past the 7:30 mark of the first, but the whistle had already blown. On replay, it looked like the puck was covered by Stars netminder Rémi Poirier, though how it came loose remains a mystery.
Still, the little things matter in tight games, and a turnover by the Moose led directly to a beautifully executed tic-tac-toe play by Texas to open the scoring.
Milic continued to impress, reading a cross-ice pass perfectly to shut down a dangerous backdoor chance. Despite outshooting Texas 16-8 in the first period, the Moose trailed 1-0-proof that not all shots are created equal. Texas made theirs count.
Second Period Swing: Lambert and Shaw Flip the Script
Brad Lambert had been buzzing all weekend, and it finally paid off in the second. The Jets’ first-rounder buried his sixth of the season, tying the game with a slick finish and giving him three goals in his last seven outings. He’s looked increasingly confident with the puck, and the Moose are starting to see the payoff.
Then it was the captain’s turn. Mason Shaw continued his tear, ripping home his 14th of the season late in the period to give Manitoba a 2-1 lead. That extended his point streak to seven games, and the Moose absolutely owned the middle frame-outshooting Texas 11-4 and taking control of the game.
Third Period Collapse: Stars Take Advantage of Mistakes
But the third period? That’s where things unraveled.
It started with a miscue from Milic that led to the Stars tying the game. Moments later, they were in front-capitalizing on point shots through traffic, with deflections doing the damage. Just like that, a 2-1 Moose lead became a 4-2 deficit.
Mason Shaw wasn’t done, though. The captain found himself in the right place at the right time, corralling a puck that took two deflections before landing in his wheelhouse. His 15th of the season brought the Moose within one, and it’s worth noting he’s now got 15 goals in 41 games-already closing in on the 17 he scored in 72 games last year.
Manitoba had a late push, but David Gustafsson couldn’t get in front of a blast from his fellow Swede, Elias Salomonsson, as the Moose scrambled for the equalizer.
Final Result: Texas 4, Manitoba 3
Texas completes the sweep with a 4-3 win, after taking the opener 2-1. The Stars now leapfrog Manitoba into third place in the Central Division, though the Moose still have three games in hand-an important cushion as the playoff race tightens.
Multi-Point Performers:
- Mason Shaw: 2 goals
- David Gustafsson: 2 assists
- Elias Salomonsson: 2 assists
What’s Next
The Moose head into the AHL All-Star break with a few days to regroup. The break runs from Sunday through Thursday, giving the team a chance to reset before diving back into a crucial stretch of the season.
This one stings, no doubt. But with games in hand and a roster that’s shown flashes of dominance, the Moose are still very much in the hunt.
The key now? Turning those flashes into consistency.