Learning name of the game for Moose

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This article was published 14/12/2023 (664 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The task for Mark Morrison is a familiar one, though the challenge can sometimes be a tad more difficult when the roster skews a bit younger.

The head coach of the Manitoba Moose is seeing progress through 20 games of the American Hockey League season, especially with his team having won four of the past five games — including an overtime triumph over the Calgary Wranglers on Sunday to improve to 10-10.

“We’re inconsistent, but we’re starting to try and find some consistency with the guys,” Morrison said after Thursday’s workout at the Hockey For All Centre. “Those are all just young mistakes, most of them. We have a really young group and just them getting used to the pro game, also trying to get them used to playing with some veteran players.”

Many of the mistakes that have been made are related to puck management, another issue that is standard practice for many in the minors, including the primary affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets.

“Making the right decisions at the right time with pucks,” said Morrison. “Early on, we had a rough time with turnovers and that’s just managing the puck in the pro game. If you turn over the puck, it’s going the other way and there’s a good chance it’s going in your net. We need to manage pucks in the neutral zone really well and these young guys are getting better at it. They’re getting better at knowing that when they turn one over, it’s going to cost them.

“They’re learning.”

Learning is the name of the game, especially for a team with the number of high-end prospects on the roster, including 2022 first-rounder Brad Lambert and 2021 second-rounder Nikita Chibrikov.

Chibrikov currently leads the Moose in scoring with eight goals and 18 points in 19 games, while Lambert has eight goals and 17 points in 20 games to sit second.

Both players would appear to have a bright future with the big club, but it’s about continuing their development right now.

“The best thing that I see in them right now is their attitude and their will,” said Morrison. “Their attitude has been good because they’re listening, they’re learning. That’s not the case with all young guys. Those two have great attitudes. They want to get better. They listen, they listen to their mentors, they listen to the coaching staff.

“When we have meetings with them, you literally see them the next day or the next game, go out there and try. Whether they’re successful at it or not, they listen.”

“Brad has come a long ways. I think he’s grown up a little bit. He’s a little bit older, a little more mature. And he’s a game-changer. He knows that. He’s got speed and that can change a game. The big thing with him is that he’s learned it’s a 200-foot game. He’s learned to come back the other way, he’s learned to pick up his man, he’s learned D-zone coverage.”

Lambert delivered the overtime winner against the Wranglers on Sunday and his adjustment to playing centre at the pro level is going well.

“Being able to drive the play through the middle, being able to create opportunities through the middle,” said Lambert. “Obviously still some work to do in my own zone, getting the defensive zone system down. That’s one of the biggest things I need to work on, and getting stronger. But I’m getting better and better, which is good.

“Everyone matures at this age. There’s still some maturing to do, but I’m just trying to become a better person and a better player every day.”

Moose forward Parker Ford turned heads during his first training camp with the Jets and while his offensive numbers (three goals, seven points in 20 games with the Moose) don’t pop off the page, he’s been playing an important role on the top line with Lambert and Jeff Malott.

“Just a steady, safe player. Plays the body hard, physical on the forecheck,” said Morrison. “We would like to see him add some more offence to his game on that line, but he’s only 20 games into the pro game here. He’s starting to shoot more.”

Jets 2021 first-rounder Chaz Lucius has been solid when he’s been in the lineup but he’s only appeared in 12 of the 20 games so far due to injury, though he looks ready to go this weekend when the Moose host the Milwaukee Admirals for games on Friday and Sunday.

“When he’s played a few games in a row, you can see him do things with the puck. He sees things that other people don’t see, he makes plays, he’s got good vision,” said Morrison. “Our goal is to get him playing some games in a row here. Getting him to play 10 or 15, so we can see some progress. We’re trying to manage his ice time, so we can build him up.”

Another familiar face on the Moose is defenceman Kyle Capobianco, who is third in scoring and is relishing the enhanced minutes he’s playing after seeing limited game action with the Jets last season.

“He’s a bit of a quieter guy but he has some confidence in his game and it portrays on the bench to the kids,” said Morrison. “We’ve had some bad scores and he’s kind of the calming influence back there. He’ll use some of his veteran presence and knowlege to settle everybody down. He’s a calming presence.

“And of course, his game has been good.”

Morrison hasn’t been told when he might see defenceman Ville Heinola (ankle), who has been doing some light skating along with Rasmus Kupari (shoulder) during the past week.

One player the Moose could get back for the weekend series with the Admirals is forward Dominic Toninato, who was placed on waivers by the Jets on Thursday.

The Admirals are a division rival and they’ve eliminated the Moose from the Calder Cup playoffs in each of the past two seasons, so the intensity figures to be high.

“When we lose, we’ve kind of lost big but then we come back and beat the same team that we just got killed by,” said Lambert. “So, we know how good we are when we play the way that we can. It’s just about playing the way that we can every game.”

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

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