By: Daniel Fink

The Manitoba Moose will be back on home ice this weekend when they host the Texas Stars on Friday and Sunday. The Moose are out to a 3-1-0-0 start this season, marking their best opening to a season since the 2021-22 campaign when the squad went 4-0-1-0 in its first five games. Three commanding victories over the Chicago Wolves helped the team rack up 18 goals, tied for third in the AHL. The Moose also own the league’s best goal differential at plus-12, having only surrendered six goals so far.

“It’s been great. Obviously we’ve had the success that we want with a pretty good record so far,” defenceman Isaak Phillips told Austin Siragusa at Wednesday’s practice. “We seem to be gelling and playing to our strengths. So it’s been fun.”

Phillips helped start off the scoring in a 6-1 win over the Wolves on Saturday with a drive to the net that eventually resulted in the puck finding Noah Gregor in the slot for the goal. That opened up a three-goal blitz in a span of five minutes as the Moose completed a bounce-back effort.

The team’s only blemish on the season so far came in a 2-1 loss the night before in Grand Rapids. A game that saw the Moose rack up 37 shots on goal, but only beat goaltender Michal Postava once. The Griffins goalkeeper was awarded the AHL’s Player of the Week.

“We felt ultimate that we played well, well enough to win both games. So that’s a positive,” added Phillips. “(Postava) is a good goalie, (Grand Rapids) is a good team. They don’t give up much, so you really have to work for that. In the second half of the game I really thought we brought it to them.”

The overall start on to the season has been important for the Moose who found themselves in an early hole in each of the previous two seasons. The success at both ends of the ice helps build momentum and confidence for a club that features plenty of young players.

It’s hard to believe 23-year-old forward Nikita Chibrikov is in his fourth season with the organization. The winger is now looked to as someone whose experience is a valuable tool for the incoming players around him. Chibrikov tallied his first goal of the season on Saturday and has three points (1G, 2A) in four games so far.

The Russian winger has been linked up with second-year pro Brayden Yager and rookie forward Lucas Wahlin. The trio is off to a solid start with Yager tied for second on the team with four points (2G, 2A) and Wahlin holds two points (1G, 1A) in four outings.

“It’s been great. We tried to find some smart plays, with speed, and talk to each other a lot. Yags and Wally are really good players. I like to play with them,” said Chibrikov. “I played a lot with Yags last season, so we kept our chemistry. We just need to keep going, play better and be a great line.”

The Moose return to game action on home ice Friday (7 p.m.) and Sunday (2 p.m.) against the Texas Stars. Friday’s game kicks off the new Friday Night Moosic Series, featuring Lotai, along with 12oz Budweiser and Bud Light draft for $6 all night. Sunday’s matinee game turns up the mystical whimsy with Fairytale Day. Tickets for both games are available at moosehockey.com/tickets.