The Manitoba Moose returned home to open their final homestand of the 2024-25 season, facing off against the Laval Rocket for a two-game weekend set. The stakes were high for the Moose, as a pair of losses would mathematically eliminate them from playoff contention.
With the Rocket sitting atop the American Hockey League (AHL) standings, the Moose were in tough with the fate of their season on the line. Having faced a series of tough opponents over the past several weeks, this was just the latest in a long line of challenges.
Game 1, Apr. 1, 2025: LAV 3 – 2 MB
The Moose, on the brink of mathematical elimination, were in need of two huge games against the league-leading Rocket. Unfortunately for them, that number shrank even more after a tough loss in the first game of the series.
The Rocket opened the scoring just 58 seconds in on a goal from Alex Barré-Boulet. His 21st of the season made it 1-0 and came on an odd-man rush off a feed from Sean Farrell.
They added to their lead just under halfway through the second period, as Florian Xhekaj buried a cross-ice pass from Vincent Arseneau. Xhekaj’s 20th of the season made it 2-0, and they weren’t done there.
Farrell made it 3-0 Rocket with just over four minutes left in the second period, as he buried one in tight on Moose netminder Domenic DiVincentiis. He came streaking in down the left side and took a Logan Mailloux pass before burying it.
The Moose started to claw their way back into the game in the early stages of the third, as captain Dominic Toninato buried his 17th of the campaign. It was a power-play goal, and it cut the deficit to 3-1.
Toninato added another with less than a minute to go in the third, burying a loose puck that was along the pad of Rocket goaltender Cayden Primeau. While that did cut the deficit to just one goal, that was as close as the Moose got, falling 3-2 in the series opener.
Primeau was the difference maker, stopping 35 of 37 shots for his 18th win of the season.
Game 2, Apr. 2, 2025: LAV 3 – 1 MB
After dropping the opener, the Moose had their backs against the wall as one loss would eliminate them from a shot at the playoffs.
It was the Moose who opened the scoring in this one, but it took a while. After a penalty-filled, scoreless first period, the Moose struck first just under the halfway mark of the second.
Dylan Coghlan was sprung on an odd-man rush and was able to beat Primeau up high. His 11th of the season made it 1-0 Moose.
The Rocket tied things up halfway through the third period on a goal from Farrell. He was able to sneak in behind the Moose defenders before taking a pass from behind the net and burying it past Thomas Milic.
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Wasting no time, the Rocket jumped in front just a few minutes later on a goal from Jared Davidson. His 22nd of the season gave Laval their first lead of the game, and they weren’t done there.
William Trudeau gave the Rocket a two-goal lead just a few minutes after that. His point shot found a lane to the net and beat Milic to make it 3-1, which ended up as the final score.
Moose Penalty Kill Impressive in Series
Despite the pair of losses, a positive thing that stood out was the Moose penalty kill. In the two games, the Moose were subjected to seven shorthanded situations, killing off all of them.
Shorthanded four times in the first period of the Apr. 2 game, the Moose were able to successfully kill off all of them with little to no dangerous chances allowed.
“They did an excellent job, and have been for a while,” assistant coach Morgan Klimchuck said post game. “It’s a real staple and it’s comforting when you know that even if you get into some penalty trouble that you can weather the storm.”
The recent success while down a man is a byproduct of a fairly successful defensive system that has become a real strength down the stretch. With the strong penalty kill performances, the Moose have now climbed into the top 20 in the AHL with an 81.5% success rate.
Division Rival Wolves Coming to Town
Despite their elimination, the Moose still have several games left in the season and will look to finish an otherwise disappointing year on a high note. Up first, their long-time division rival Chicago Wolves on Apr. 5 and 6. After a very physical series against Laval, the Moose are anticipating more of the same from a tough opponent.
“They’ve got some fast players who can make some plays, forward Tyson Empey said after the Apr. 2 loss. “We’ve also had some pretty chippy games against them so we’re expecting some of that.”
The two games against the Wolves will mark the middle section of the final six-game homestand on the Moose, with their final home action taking place the weekend after on Apr. 11 and 12.
