Fresh off a four-game domination of their biggest competition in the AHL’s Canadian Division, the Laval Rocket began their slow trek back east, stopping in Winnipeg to open a four-game series with the Manitoba Moose. With a six-game winning streak and riding an incredible 8-2-0 form in their last 10, the Rocket entered Thursday’s game as the hottest team in the AHL.
Given the incredible run of form, Joël Bouchard made no changes to his forwards or defensive pairings, opting only to give Michael McNiven another start, with Vasili Demchenko serving as his backup. The Moose were bolstered by Kristian Vesalainen in their forward group, while old foe Mikhail Berdin was between the pipes.