The Manitoba Moose head into Cedar Park on Wednesday to take on the Texas Stars for the first time this season, having just experienced a 5-0 trouncing at the hands of the San Antonio Rampage on Tuesday. These Moose aren't quite the same team that took the AHL by storm last season en route to an abbreviated postseason run in which they were swept by the Rockford IceHogs in the second round.
They do still employ point per game winger Mason Appleton, though. They also have the luxury of icing 2017-18 Eddie Shore Award winning defenseman Sami Niku, though he will be unavailable against the Stars due to a call-up.