Moose in playoff hunt

Not unlike the parent club, time is of the essence these days for the Manitoba Moose.

But in contrast to the Winnipeg Jets, the American Hockey League squad is currently on the right side of the playoff line. However, their perch got a bit more perilous on Friday afternoon following a 6-3 loss to the Grand Rapids Griffins at Canada Life Centre to kick off a crucial, six-game homestand.

It was a roller-coaster game that saw the Moose go down 3-0 after 20 minutes, claw back to tie it in the second period, then give up three straight late goals (including an empty-netter) to the No. 1 team in the Central Division.

“We made some irresponsible plays with the puck and they pounced. That’s who they are,” said head coach Mark Morrison. “The way we’ve played the game as of late, we don’t score a lot of goals. So when we score three, we’ve got to win the hockey game. To give up some Grade A chances against to that team, they’re going to put them in.”

Manitoba (31-27-6) sits fourth in the Central with eight regular-season games remaining. The top five teams qualify for the post-season, but No. 4 plays No. 5 in a best-of-three qualification round series, with the higher-seed hosting the duration. Milwaukee entered play Friday night in Cleveland just three points behind the Moose with a game in hand.

Manitoba will host Milwaukee next Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by Texas — who sit in third place in the division, just two points ahead of them — next Friday and Sunday.

“All the games are huge for us right now,” said Morrison.

Highlights on Friday included rookie forward Jacob Julien, who missed nearly 40 games with a knee injury to start the season, scoring his first professional goal for the Moose. Chase Yoder also lit the lamp, his second in as many games, and veteran Phil di Giuseppe had the other marker.

“It stinks not being able to get a point there, or squeeze out two,” said Yoder. “Obviously puck management is big there when the game is tied and there’s under eight minutes to go. But we’re trying to make plays out there. We’re trying to win the game, too.”

Top forward prospects Brayden Yager, Colby Barlow and Nikita Chibrikov all chipped in with assists.

The Moose roster has been thinned in recent weeks, with Parker Ford, Brad Lambert, Danny Zhilkin and Elias Salomonsson all earning call-ups to the Jets. Forward David Gustafsson (injury) and defenceman Alfons Freij (illness) — who recently arrived from Sweden — are also sidelined.

Zhilkin was returned to the Moose on Friday and should be in the lineup for Saturday’s rematch against the Griffins. It’s also possible one or more of the newest additions could make their debut, as Winnipeg becomes a hockey haven for college captains.

Lucas Wahlin, Davis Burnside and Lukas Gustafsson all wore letters for their respective NCAA programs this past season. Now, the undrafted trio will finish the year with the Moose.

Burnside and Gustafsson signed one-year American Hockey League deals for 2026-27 on Thursday, along with professional tryouts that allow them to join the Moose immediately. Wahlin inked a one-year, two-way contract with the Jets last week, along with an amateur tryout that also takes effect right away.

Winnipeg has gone this route before, signing players like Brandon Tanev (Providence), Jeff Malott (Cornell) and Ford (Providence) as undrafted free agents. All three worked their way through the Moose and are now NHL players. Malott and Ford were captains at the NCAA level, as was current Moose defenceman Dylan Anhorn (St. Cloud State).

It’s a strategy that makes plenty of sense.

The Jets have moved out significant draft capital in recent years to acquire immediate help. Targeting undrafted college free agents offers a low-risk, potentially high-reward way to replenish the prospect pipeline — often with players who bring maturity, leadership and a proven competitive edge.

There’s little doubt this latest group fits that mold.

Burnside, 22, recorded 32 points (12 goals, 20 assists) in 37 games with Ohio State this season. The six-foot, 185-pound right-shot forward from Illinois finished his NCAA career with 112 points (49 goals, 63 assists) in 155 games. He previously played in the USHL with the Tri-City Storm, Des Moines Buccaneers and Dubuque Fighting Saints.

Burnside described himself as a “high-energy player, playmaker, not afraid to get into the dirty areas. I’m not the biggest guy, but I like to use my speed and make plays off the rush.”

Gustafsson, 23, had 22 points (6G, 16A) in 36 games with Boston College that had their championship dreams come to an unexpectedly early end. The five-foot-11, 194-pound left-shot defenceman from Georgia totalled 72 points (14G, 58A) in 147 NCAA games. He also won a USHL championship with the Chicago Steel in 2021.

Gustafsson described himself as “an offensive defenceman. I like to make plays, but also reliable on the defensive side. Not the tallest defenceman, but like to play hard, like to play physical. Just make simple plays, get up the ice, join the play. Hopefully score a few goals here and there.”

Wahlin, 24, produced 39 points (21G, 18A) in 36 games with the University of St. Thomas. The five-foot-11, 160-pound right-shot forward from Minnesota finished with 131 points (56G, 75A) in 137 NCAA games. He was recently named the CCHA Student-Athlete of the Year and Defensive Forward of the Year.

“It was definitely a long process. Kind of waited, talked to a bunch of teams, talked to my family and kind of figured what was the best opportunity and the best decision for my future. It ended up being Winnipeg,” Wahlin told reporters.

He described himself as “a hard-working, two-way forward that’s not afraid to provide some offence. Get gritty in the corners and get physical.”

Morrison said he plans to work all three into the lineup in the coming games.

“That’s up to us as coaches to fit them in — maybe not all at the same time — in spots where we feel safe with them,” he said.

“It’s always hard at this time of year because these guys are in here and management wants to take a look at them, so they have to play. I guess, really, it’s about making sure they know enough of the systems and putting them with the right guys.”

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