The Winnipeg Jets aren’t the only winning team right now in downtown Winnipeg. Their AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, also returned home this past week to host the Toronto Marlies on Friday and Sunday. Manitoba snuck out two huge one-goal wins with a playoff-like feel to both of them at Canada Life Centre.

Moose centre David Gustafsson missed his fourth straight game, while forward Walker Duehr, defencemen Isaak Phillips and Kale Clague, and goaltender Domenic DiVincentiis returned to the lineup. Brad Lambert was also recalled to the Jets while Jets prospect Colby Barlow returned to the Moose lineup after missing time due to an injury.

Manitoba struck first at 16:05 courtesy of Phillips’ sixth of the campaign, beating Dennis Hildeby through the pads with a wrist shot near the goal line.

Henry Thrun tied things up for the Marlies with his fourth at 18:44 to close out the opening period.

Toronto took its first lead of the game just 2:05 into the middle frame when Borya Valis netted his 11th.

Jets prospect Brayden Yager responded just 1:07 after Toronto’s go-ahead goal on the power play, firing a seeing-eye shot past Hildeby’s glove for the 21-year-old’s eighth.

With the game tied 2-2 in the third period, defenceman Ashton Sautner gave Manitoba the lead at 6:08. The Flin Flon, Manitoba product fired a slap shot from the point past the Marlies netminder for his second in antlers this season.

Sautner’s tally proved to be the game-winner as Manitoba secured a 3-2 regulation win for a massive two points. The victory improved the Moose to 25-19-5-1, putting them third in the Central Division by two points with two games in hand on the Texas Stars.

Domenic DiVincentiis made 27 saves, earning himself Second Star of the Game.

Gustafsson remained out for the fifth straight contest, and Tyson Empey replaced Fabian Wagner on the third line.

Foxwarren, Manitoba native defenceman Dawson Barteaux played in his 100th game in antlers.

It was a goaltending battle for more than 50 minutes until Moose forward Parker Ford broke the ice at 10:50 of the third period with his fifth. Captain Mason Shaw, who was below Toronto’s goal line, got the puck out front to Ford, who one-timed it past Artur Akhtyamov to finally give the home crowd something to cheer about.

Manitoba held on to sweep the weekend series with a 1-0 blanking of the Marlies. The Moose improved to 26-19-5-1, giving them 58 points and keeping them in third place in the Central Division.

Both goaltenders earned one of the Stars of the Game, but Moose netminder Thomas Milic took First Star honours for his 31-save shutout.

Manitoba now hits the road to face the defending 2025 Calder Cup champion Abbotsford Canucks on March 10 to open a four-game western Canadian road trip.