After sweeping a weekend series against the Laval Rocket last week, the competition stiffened for the Manitoba Moose as they went head-to-head with the league-leading Grand Rapids Griffins at Canada Life Centre on Friday and Sunday. The Griffins entered the weekend having yet to be beaten in regulation on the road this season.

Moose forward Danny Zhilkin and defenceman Isaak Phillips returned to Manitoba after brief stints with the Winnipeg Jets. Zhilkin made his NHL debut, appearing in four games, while Phillips played two contests in his Jets debut. Both were back in the lineup Friday night against the AHL’s top club.

The game’s first goal didn’t come until the second period, when Sheldon Dries tipped a point shot in front to put the Griffins ahead 1-0 with his 13th of the season.

In the final minutes of the middle frame, Moose captain Mason Shaw tied the game with 1:08 remaining, his 11th of the year, matching Samuel Fagemo and Walker Duehr for the team lead.

Grand Rapids regained the lead in unusual fashion at 12:04 of the third period. Gabriel Seger drove hard to the net and muscled the puck past Thomas Milic for a shorthanded goal, his third of the campaign, making it 2-1.

Manitoba was only able to solve Sebastian Cossa once, as the Griffins held on to take the opener of the weekend series by a 2-1 final.

Milic was sharp in goal, turning aside 26 shots, as the Moose fell to 19-15-3.

Both teams had a chance to reset Saturday before meeting again Sunday afternoon, with Manitoba looking to become the first team to defeat the Detroit Red Wings’ AHL affiliate in regulation on the road.

Some lineup notes ahead of the matinee: Walker Duehr was unavailable, Phillips played the right side for the first time alongside Ville Heinola, and Jets 2023 fifth-round pick Jacob Julien re-entered the lineup. It marked Julien’s first game in antlers at Canada Life Centre after making his AHL debut on Jan. 16 in Laval.

The Moose opened the scoring at 15:55 of the first period on Kale Clague’s seventh of the season. Phillips’ point shot was blocked by Shaw, and Clague jumped on the loose puck at the top of the crease, sliding it into the open net for a 1-0 lead.

With just 29 seconds remaining in the frame, Dries tied the game with his second goal in as many games. His one-timer deflected off Ashton Sautner’s stick and through the legs of Domenic DiVincentiis to make it 1-1.

Grand Rapids took its first lead of the afternoon just 55 seconds into the third period. John Leonard forced a turnover at his own blueline, broke in alone, and after initially being stopped by DiVincentiis, stuffed home his 26th of the season.

Zhilkin tied the game near the midway point of the period. In his second game back from the Jets, he took a pass from Dylan Anhorn and, while spinning, fired a backhand that beat Michal Postava cleanly under the pads.

Late heroics followed from Brad Lambert, who put the Moose ahead with just 27 seconds remaining. During a scramble in front, Lambert poked a loose puck past Postava for his fifth goal of the year, which stood as the game-winner and handed the Griffins their first regulation road loss of the season.

DiVincentiis was calm and composed in goal, stopping 26 shots, as Manitoba picked up its 20th win to improve to 20-15-3.

Lambert spoke postgame about his late goal and what it meant to hand the league-best Griffins their first regulation road loss.

The Moose will remain home next weekend, hosting the Rockford IceHogs on Saturday and Sunday at Canada Life Centre. Both games feature 2:00 p.m. CST puck drops and can be watched on AHLTV.