The Manitoba Moose (34-29-5-2) open their final weekend of the regular season against the Iowa Wild (26-35-6-3) on Friday. The Moose have points in three straight games after suffering a 3-2 shootout loss to Chicago on Wednesday. Manitoba is 5-4-0-1 in the past 10 games. The Wild dropped a 5-2 decision to the Grand Rapids Griffins on Wednesday, their second straight loss.

Coverage of today’s matchup gets going at 6:45 p.m. CT on CJOB.com, the Winnipeg Jets App and AHLTV on FloHockey. Puck drop at Casey’s Center is slated for 7 p.m. CT.

Spitting Barz

Colby Barlow struck for the second time in as many games on Wednesday. It’s the first time this season Barlow has tallied goals in back-to-back outings. The Orillia, Ont. product has three goals and four points over his past seven games. Barlow’s chances have climbed in the second half of the season. The winger averaged 0.94 shots per game in his first 32 outings, with that jumping to 1.65 shots per game in his next 31 games. Barlow is averaging an even better 2.33 shots per game over his past nine games. The 2023 Winnipeg Jets first round pick has 14 points (6G, 8A) in 63 games this season

Out for a Walk(er)

Walker Duehr nabbed his first power play goal of the season on Wednesday. Duehr leads the Moose with 16 even strength or shorthanded  goals on the season. Among those 16 non-power play goals are five shorthanded tallies which are tied for most in the AHL. The Sioux Falls, S.D. export’s 17 total goals represent a new career high to join new highs in assists and points this season. Overall, Duehr ranks fourth on the Moose with 34 points (17G, 17A) in 60 games.

Taking Care of Business (and Working Overtime)

The Moose collected five of a possible six points over their past three games, with all three contests requiring extra time to solve. Manitoba was a part of 18 consecutive games that finished in regulation time from March 6 to April 8. Prior to that stretch, the Moose played extra hockey in four of six games. The antlered ones have solved seven games in 3-on-3 sessions so far this season with a 2-5 record in those games. The Moose have fared better in their six shootout appearances, posting a 4-2 mark. Samuel Fagemo and Phil Di Giuseppe own Manitoba’s two overtime winners, while the Moose have shootout winners from four different players. 

Into the Freij

Alfons Freij factored into the point column for the first time in his AHL career on Wednesday. Freij picked up an assist on Manitoba’s first goal of the contest as Colby Barlow tipped the Swedish defender’s point shot past Cayden Primeau. Freij achieved the milestone in his fifth AHL contest. The 2024 Winnipeg Jets second round pick is the seventh player to record their first AHL point with the Moose on the campaign. Freij joined Manitoba after tallying 11 points (6G, 5A) in 42 games with
Timrå IK of the SHL this season.

Who’s Trending?

Lucas Wahlin tallied the second assist of his young AHL career on Wednesday while playing his fourth game. The Woodbury, Minn. product also holds a plus-two rating in his four games. Wahlin signed with the Winnipeg Jets out of the University of St. Thomas where he captained his club while picking up 39 points (21G, 18A) in 36 games.