The Manitoba Moose's absentee list, which grew to a season-high 10 players when captain Mike Keane missed Saturday night's game in Toronto, may actually improve some time this week.

After being spanked 6-1 by the Marlies, the Moose return home for four games, beginning Tuesday night against the Chicago Wolves.

Keane is not expected to play that game. The team said Sunday after returning home that its captain, out with a lower-body injury, likely won't play in the early part of this homestand.

That's not great news, considering he's not only a key element in the dressing room but also on the team's penalty-killing units. That was a vulnerability Saturday as the Marlies scored four times on the power play.

The Moose had a miserable weekend against opponents' power plays. Counting Friday's 5-4 shootout loss to Rochester, which ended Manitoba's 10-game winning streak, the Moose gave up six goals in 12 penalty-killing opportunities.

Back at MTS Centre this week, the Moose are hopeful that forward Alexandre Bolduc will be back in action within the next game or two. He's missed eight games since going down March 9 against Hamilton.

The Moose are also expecting defenceman Zack FitzGerald to be back on the ice this week with his teammates. FitzGerald suffered a broken jaw Feb. 24 in Peoria and had surgery to place a small plate on his jawbone. He's not likely to play this week but it will be an important stage in ramping up his return shortly after.

Defenceman Jimmy Sharrow (shoulder) and forward Jozef Balej (knee) remain out and the Moose still have four roster-eligible skaters with the NHL's Vancouver Canucks -- Rick Rypien, Mason Raymond, Luc Bourdon and Nathan McIver.

-- Staff

March of

the Moose

Second in North, 90 points, clinched AHL playoff spot.

Games left: 7 (4 home, 3 away)

Next up: vs. Chicago, Tuesday at MTS Centre, 7:30 p.m.

Chasing the Marlies: Lead Moose by 11 points with 7 games left (three against Moose).

Feeling the Crunch: Trail Moose by four points with 7 games left