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The Winnipeg Jets’ AHL affiliate was in action twice this past week, with both games played at home to wrap up a six-game homestand against the defending Calder Cup champion Abbotsford Canucks. The first matchup came on New Year’s Eve for the Manitoba Moose’s annual New Year’s Eve game, followed by Friday’s contest on Elias Salomonsson bobblehead night.

With it being the holidays and the Moose hosting their annual New Year’s Eve game, complete with a post-game fireworks show, the crowd was near full capacity, an exciting sight for the AHL club. Unfortunately, Manitoba couldn’t pick up two points in front of the packed barn.

Manitoba struck first 6:21 into the opening period when Jaret Anderson-Dolan stretched a long pass to Danny Zhilkin, who used his speed to cut in on a partial breakaway and slipped the puck through the legs of Nikita Tolopilo for his seventh of the season, making it 1-0 Moose.

Abbotsford tied the game late in the frame on the power play as Danila Klimovich beat Domenic DiVincentiis for his fourth of the year.

The game remained tied 1-1 after 20 minutes, with Abbotsford outshooting Manitoba 12-6.

Despite being outshot 21-7 in the middle frame, the Canucks took a 4-2 lead into the second intermission. Lukas Reichel scored his first as a Canuck at 3:15, followed by Ty Mueller’s power-play goal less than two minutes later for his fourth. Moose defenceman Elias Salomonsson brought Manitoba within one at 13:49 with his first of the season, but Abbotsford restored its two-goal cushion late in the period when a miscommunication by the Moose allowed Mueller to set up Arshdeep Bains for his second of the year.

Manitoba was unable to beat Tolopilo in the third, and Bains added his second of the game with an empty-net goal as Abbotsford defeated Manitoba 5-2.

DiVincentiis made 23 saves as the Moose fell to 15-12-2.

The two teams met again two days later, with Manitoba looking for some revenge after coming up short in its New Year’s Eve game.

Moose captain Mason Shaw, playing his first game since representing Team Canada at the Spengler Cup in Davos, opened the scoring at 6:22 when he redirected Salomonsson’s point shot past Jiri Patera for his seventh of the season.

Parker Ford doubled the lead at 17:41 when Colby Barlow sent him in alone with a backhand pass. Ford beat Patera on his backhand for his second of the year.

Manitoba led 2-0 after the opening period while outshooting Abbotsford 17-7.

The lone goal of the second period came at 17:37 when Anri Ravinskis beat Thomas Milic on a wraparound for his first AHL goal, cutting the Moose lead to 2-1.

The third period remained tight until David Gustafsson made it 3-1 at 13:32 with his seventh goal and 20th point of the season. Walker Duehr set up Gustafsson driving the net, and he beat a sprawling Patera.

Phillip Di Giuseppe sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 15:45, his eighth of the season, making it 4-1.

Manitoba improved to 16-12-2, while Milic turned aside 22 shots.

“I think we just started really strong, and we never really stepped down from that,” Ford said following the game. “I think the start of the game dictated the rest of the game. There are ebbs and flows to the game, but I think that start set us up for a great game.”

The Moose now hit the road for six straight contests, beginning Thursday in Milwaukee against the Admirals. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. on AHLTV.