Moose return home after successful road trip

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This article was published 14/11/2017 (2943 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

They’re back in town after a couple weeks of California dreaming and the Manitoba Moose are looking to continue their recent run of red-hot play.

The Moose won four of six games during a swing through Stockton, Bakersfield and San Jose and have now collected points in eight of their past 10 games (6-2-2).

Their overall record of 8-5-2 is all the more impressive considering they’ve played 11 of those 15 games away from Bell MTS Place. Manitoba kicks off a four-game homestand tonight against the Chicago Wolves, the farm team of the Vegas Golden Knights and St. Louis Blues.

“The guys are creating a really solid team chemistry,” Moose head coach Pascal Vincent said Tuesday of all the time away from home, which he says has allowed them to focus on playing a simpler, smarter game while also bonding as a team.

“I don’t mind being on the road, especially early in the season. Getting to know to each other, we have to spend time together. And the guys have been playing extremely well,” Vincent said.

With the Winnipeg Jets back to full health, the Moose find themselves with the luxury of a stacked team.

A total of 15 forwards and eight defencemen are on the active roster, giving Vincent plenty of options. Only defenceman Nelson Nogier remains on the injured list.

Second-year pro Jack Roslovic has been on a tear of late, with four goals and six assists during the six-game California trip. His 17 points on the season (eight goals, nine assists) lead the Moose and put him fourth in the American Hockey League in scoring. Roslovic is currently skating on a line with Nic Petan and captain Patrice Cormier.

“I like it, it’s been good. I think we’ve been working well together,” Roslovic said.

With all their depth, the Moose currently have four strong scoring lines in addition to the Roslovic, Petan and Cormier trio: Mike Sgarbossa, Buddy Robinson and the just re-assigned Brendan Lemieux skated as a trio at practice Tuesday.

Chase De Leo, JC Lipon and talented rookie Mason Appleton are together; and highly touted rookie prospects Jansen Harkins and Michael Spacek are on a unit with Cam Maclise.

“What it creates really is an internal competition. And that’s really good,” Vincent said.

On defence, Tucker Poolman, fellow rookie Sami Niku and veteran Cameron Schilling are leading a talented group that also includes Julian Melchiori, Peter Stoykewych and Jake Kulevich.

Goaltender Eric Comrie has started five of the past six games for the Moose as Michael Hutchinson is essentially relegated to a back-up role.

Both goalies have put up solid numbers so far: Comrie is 5-4-1 with a 2.41 goals-against average and .923 save percentage, while Hutchinson is 3-1-1 with a 2.40 GAA and .928 SP.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @mikemcintyrewpg