The Manitoba Moose returned home this past week, hosting the Chicago Wolves twice to open a six-game homestand at Canada Life Centre.

The Moose looked to extend their winning streak to five games in Thursday’s matchup.

Isaak Phillips opened the scoring just 2:10 into the first, sneaking a point shot past Cayden Primeau. Nikita Chibrikov and Parker Ford, both making their Moose season debuts, picked up the assists. Evan Vierling tied the game 1-1 late in the period with his sixth of the campaign.

Danny Zhilkin restored Manitoba’s lead 4:34 into the second, lifting a backhand over Primeau for his fifth of the season. The goal stood as the eventual game-winner.

Manitoba didn’t register a shot on goal in the third period, while Chicago directed 13 toward Thomas Milic. The young netminder turned them all aside, finishing with 28 saves to secure the Moose’s fifth straight victory.

Winnipeg and Carolina’s AHL affiliates met again on Saturday.

Colby Barlow opened the scoring at 13:21 into the first, finishing a crisp passing sequence from Zhilkin and Jaret Anderson-Dolan for his second of the year.

Manitoba carried the one-goal lead into the second, where David Gustafsson doubled the advantage just 1:56 in, converting a play initiated by captain Mason Shaw. Minutes later, Walker Duehr broke in shorthanded and beat Primeau with a backhand deke to make it 3-0. Vierling responded for Chicago shortly after, cutting the lead to two.

The Wolves made a push in the third, with Aleksi Heimosalmi pulling them within one, but the Moose held firm the rest of the way to secure their sixth consecutive win. Domenic DiVincentiis stopped 25 shots for the victory.

“We found a way to win, and that’s the most important thing. We buckled down for three periods and did what we wanted, played north, played hard, and got the job done,” Barlow said post-game.

The Moose continue their homestand with four more contests, beginning Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. CST when they welcome the Belleville Senators for Manitoba’s Project 11 School Day Game.