AHL Game Preview: Manitoba Moose vs Iowa Wild with Line Combinations (03/16/2025)

Manitoba Moose vs Iowa Wild
Photo Credit: Conrad Jack (Inside The Rink)

Manitoba Moose (21-32-1-3, 46 pts) at Iowa Wild (20-32-4-1, 4 pts)

Venue: Wells Fargo Arena
Date: March 16th, 2025
Time: 3:00 pm CST
TV: FLO Sports

Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster

Season Head-to-Head

  • Manitoba has the edge on the Iowa Wild with a 4-1-0-0 win-loss record while the Wild are 1-3-1-0 on the season against the Moose.
  • Both teams were an even 4-4-0-0 in their 2023-24 contests.
  • Across the past five seasons, the Moose are 17-11-0-1 against Iowa while Iowa’s record is 12-15-1-1 against Manitoba.

Manitoba Moose News & Notes:

The Manitoba Moose come into this game looking to pick up a series sweep over the Iowa Wild. Manitoba’s 5-4 overtime win against Iowa yesterday was their fifth trip beyond regulation in the past 10 games.

With Mark Liwiski out of the lineup, as he serves his second game on his three-game suspension, the Manitoba Moose look to their newly signed players on amateur tryout contracts (ATO) in Reece Vitelli, Colson Gengenbach and Jamie Engelbert to fill spots for the suspended Liwiski and various other injured players.

Chris Driedger gets his second start in a Manitoba Moose uniform and his first on the road for the team since being acquired on March 6th for Kaapo Kahkonen.

With Manitoba holding sixth place in the AHL’s Central Division by a one-point lead, this contest against Iowa is a tone-setter for the playoff push as the Moose sit 10 points behind Rockford for the final playoff spot.

Iowa Wild News & Notes:

Iowa shapes up against Manitoba looking for a series split after their 5-4 overtime loss to the Moose. With a series split, the Wild would continue their hunt for the final playoff spot in the AHL’s Central Division.

Wild forward Graeme Clarke comes into this contest two assists shy of reaching 100 career AHL assists.

The key for Iowa to make a strong case against the Moose is to not give up the first goal of the game. In 11 of the last 13 games, Iowa has given up the first goal. Across their last eight consecutive games, Iowa has allowed a goal in the opening frame.

Manitoba Moose Projected Lines

Mason Shaw – Dominic Toninato – CJ Suess
Colson Gengenbach – Jaret Anderson-Dolan – Brad Lambert
Fabian Wagner – Ben King – Reece Vitelli
Tyson Empey – Danny Zhilkin – Carson Golder

Dylan Coghlan – Elias Salomonsson
Isaak Phillips – Simon Lundmark
Ashton Sautner – Tyrel Bauer

Chris Driedger
Domenic DiVincentiis

Iowa Wild Projected Lines

Liam Ohgren – Travis Boyd – Graeme Clarke
Michael Milne – Ben Jones – Ryan Sandelin
Luke Toporowski – Caedan Bankier – Tyler Madden
Gavin Hain – Connor MacEachern – Adam Raska

Carson Lambos – Cameron Crotty
Jack Peart – Ryan O’Rourke
Will Zmolek – David Spacek

Samuel Hlavaj
Dylan Ferguson

Players To Watch:

Manitoba Moose

  • Fabian Wagner has exploded on the goalscoring scene. He’s scored six goals in his last five games and has a six-game point streak heading into the Moose’s contest against Iowa.
  • Brad Lambert has been all over the Manitoba Moose lineup. The Moose’s leading scorer has shown adaptability and has excelled in the role on the wing and his team-leading 26 assists and 30 points show just that.
  • Jamie Engelbert, Reece Vitelli, and Colson Gengenbach are three new Moose players who joined the team on ATO contracts and have fit like gloves since their arrival.

Iowa Wild

  • Travis Boyd is the leading scorer for Iowa, a player the Wild has relied on heavily this season to produce. If the Wild want to take the series split to keep their playoff hopes alive, production from Boyd is a must for Iowa.
  • Carson Lambos facing his hometown team is a big game for him. In the previous two contests that Lambos has played the Moose, he’s gotten into fights and has been a thorn in the Moose’s side.

Next game

Manitoba Moose – March 19th vs Rockford IceHogs
Iowa Wild – March 22nd vs Ontario Reign

ITR 44: We Have A Champion…Again Inside The Rink

Join Chris and Conrad as they break down the Florida Panthers winning back-to-back Stanley Cups, Trevor Zegras traded to the Philadelphia Flyers, the AHL Calder Cup winning Abbotsford Canucks, and the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft!
  1. ITR 44: We Have A Champion…Again
  2. ITR 43: It's Winning Time
  3. ITR 42: Ripe For Repeat?
  4. ITR 41: Stanley Cup Final – The Rematch
  5. ITR 40: Headed For A Repeat?

Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Conrad Jack

Conrad Jack is a Manitoba based sportswriter covering the Winnipeg Jets (NHL) and the Manitoba Moose (AHL). He also covers the NHL Draft and World Junior Championship for ITR. He writes the Bargain Bin blog which covers NHL News & Rumours.

Leave a Reply

AHL: Mitchell Gibson Signs with Hershey Bears

They say goalies are a different breed—and with good reason. They play the game from a unique perspective, often under immense pressure, and carry one of the most important roles on the ice. The Stingrays in South Carolina have seen their fair share of netminders come and go, with some making names for themselves at […]

Read More

Kaid Oliver, Former Atlanta Gladiator, Joins 2025 Australian International Ice Hockey Cup

Kaid Oliver, a former forward with the Atlanta Gladiators, is heading to Australia this summer to represent the USA Eagles in the 2025 Australian International Ice Hockey Cup. The tournament attracts players from around the world, featuring a high-tempo mix of national and select teams. It’s not unfamiliar territory for the Atlanta Gladiators either. Last […]

Read More

The Abbotsford Canucks Are 2025 AHL Champions After Defeating The Charlotte Checkers

Charlotte, N.C. — In a win-or-lose situation, the Charlotte Checkers entered game six on home ice with an opportunity to advance the series or give the cup to their opponent, the Abbotsford Canucks. Hosting over 8,000 fans at Bojangles Colosseum, the fans in red and black showed up with loud and electric support. Related Post: […]

Read More