The Manitoba Moose (31-27-5-1) look to bounce back against the Grand Rapids Griffins (48-13-4-1) on Saturday afternoon. Manitoba fell 6-3 to the Griffins on Friday afternoon, snapping their modest two-game win streak. They are 4-6-0-0 over their past 10 games. For Grand Rapids, it was their fourth win in a row. The Griffins eclipsed the 100-point mark for the season.

Tickets are available for tonight’s game at moosehockey.com/tickets. Coverage of today’s matchup gets going at 1:45 p.m. CT on CJOB.com, the Winnipeg Jets App and AHLTV on FloHockey. Action at Canada Life Centre begins at 2 p.m. CT.

Puck on the Mantle

Jacob Julien ticked off an important career milestone on Friday afternoon, scoring his first career professional goal in Manitoba’s 6-3 loss to Grand Rapids. The first-year pro took a feed from Reece Vitelli before picking the top corner over the blocker of Sebastian Cossa. The London, Ont. native has recorded five points (1G, 4A) through 25 games in antlers. Julien made his professional debut with the organization’s ECHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals, on Jan. 9 at Adirondack. Julien scored 148 points (49G, 99A) during his time in the OHL with the London Knights, winning a pair of OHL championships and a Memorial Cup.

Here’s the Scenario

The Moose come into Saturday’s game with a clinching scenario for the first time this season. To put an ‘X’ next to their name in the standings, the Moose will need at least one point in their meeting with Grand Rapids on home ice, combined with a Rockford loss in regulation, or a win over the Griffins combined with a Rockford loss in any fashion. The Moose previously made the Calder Cup Playoffs in 2024, when they fell to the Texas Stars in the Central Division First Round series in two games. Kyle Capobianco and Ville Heinola led the team with two points (2A) each. 

2023 and Me

Jacob Julien, Brayden Yager, and Colby Barlow all recorded a point on Friday afternoon. It’s the first time this season the three have combined to do so. All three skaters were drafted in the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville. Yager came off the board 14th overall, going to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Barlow was taken a few picks later at 18th overall, while Julien heard his name in the fifth round (146th overall). Goaltender Thomas Milic was also a 2023 draft pick, with the Winnipeg Jets calling his name in the fifth round (151st overall).

150 Candles for Chibrikov

Nikita Chibrikov will skate in his 150th career AHL game when he next plays, all of which have come as a member of the Moose. Currently riding a two game point streak, the Moscow, Russia native has 14 points (6G, 8A) through 49 games this season. He now has 79 points (30G, 49A) in his AHL career. In addition to his AHL service, Chibrikov has played 13 games across three seasons with the Winnipeg Jets, recording four points (3G, 1A). Chibrikov was a second round draft pick by the Jets in 2021.

Who’s Trending?

Chase Yoder scored his second goal in as many games on Friday afternoon, sticking with a loose puck to bury a tying goal in the second. The Fairview, Texas native has scored three points (2G, 1A) in 16 games with the Moose this season, also adding 29 more points (17G, 12A) in 37 games with the Norfolk Admirals. He was the captain at Providence for two seasons.