The Manitoba Moose opened up their 2017-18 season in Michigan with a pair of games against the Detroit Red Wings affiliate and defending Calder Cup Champions; the Grand Rapids Griffins.

The season opener this past Friday started much like the parent club Jets did a couple of nights earlier as the Griffins – charged up by an enthusiastic crowd that celebrated a Calder Cup banner raising – blitzed the Moose with three goals in the span of about ten minutes in the first period.

The Moose did though right the ship in the second and third periods, trading goals in both frames. The Moose were especially good in the third as they out-shot the Griffins by a 12-3 margin, but couldn’t get any closer than a two goal deficit.

The following night however was a bit of a different story as Moose went back into Van Andel Arena and had a bit of a statement win, dropping Grand Rapids by a 7-2 score.

The Moose decided to try the first period goal outburst scoring three in the first 11:50 with Kyle Connor leading the way with a pair of goals, both assisted by Jack Roslovic.

Grand Rapids did rally a bit with a pair of goals that book-ended the first intermission, but another blitz of Moose goals – this time four in the span of five minutes – put to rest any thoughts of a Grand Rapids comeback.

The Moose open up the home part of their schedule on Friday night as they host the Cleveland Monsters (CBJ affiliate) for a pair of games over the weekend. After an off day on Saturday, they’ll take on the Monsters again on Sunday afternoon.