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![\"PAUL](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4153707_web1_CP176114159.jpg\")
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PAUL VERNON \/ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES<\/p>\n
Forward Brad Lambert returns to the Manitoba Moose lineup in time for the Calder Cup playoffs, after an impressive showing during his recent call-up to the Winnipeg Jets.<\/p>\n
All three games \u2014 Wednesday at 7 p.m., Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., if necessary \u2014 will be held in Winnipeg. Good luck to the winner, who will then take on the powerhouse Grand Rapids Griffins, who ran away with both the Central Division and Western Conference with a stellar 51-16-5 record.<\/p>\n
Manitoba had a chance to avoid this by securing third place, which would have meant skipping the play-in round and going straight to the division semifinals, a best-of-five against second-place Chicago. Instead, the Moose finished two points back of Texas.<\/p>\n
Both the Moose and Admirals have been bolstered in recent days with young players returned by their parent clubs, the Jets and Nashville Predators, who both failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs.<\/p>\n
In that sense, this is a great opportunity to get a glimpse of future Jets pieces in meaningful games.<\/p>\n
Forwards Brad Lambert and Brayden Yager, who both impressed during recent call-ups, have been reassigned and will be counted on in key roles. They\u2019ll look to carry their momentum and show they\u2019re ready to compete for full-time NHL jobs as early as this fall.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a great learning experience for me. I think I got more and more comfortable as it went on,\u201d said Lambert, the 30th-overall pick from 2022 who had three goals and three assists in 25 games with the Jets. The majority came after the Olympic break, with the Jets pushing for a playoff spot.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was huge to be able to play those games that were super important. Obviously the pace just goes up. It was a great experience, kind of my first taste of that, which was awesome,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Lambert, 22, had six goals and seven assists in 34 games with the Moose earlier this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cA great team down there. I will try to go as far as I can,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a great learning experience for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Jets still have defenceman Elias Salomonsson (concussion protocol) and forward Nikita Chibrikov (undisclosed) on the roster, with the expectation they\u2019ll be sent down once medically cleared.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so excited to play in the playoffs. It\u2019s a huge opportunity,\u201d said Chibrikov, who didn\u2019t have any points this year in 11 games with the Jets after recording 16 (6G, 10A) with the Moose.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the extent of players eligible for the AHL playoffs. The Jets did not make forward Isak Rosen or defenceman Ville Heinola available. Heinola, a pending unrestricted free agent, is joining Finland\u2019s camp for the upcoming World Championship in Switzerland next month.<\/p>\n
Manitoba has also welcomed several new faces who could make an impact, including a pair of top Jets defensive prospects.<\/p>\n
Garrett Brown, a fourth-round pick in 2022, is fresh off a national championship with Denver and could make his pro debut in the playoffs. Alfons Freij, a second-rounder in 2024, has played five games since arriving from Sweden and picked up his first point, an assist, this past week.<\/p>\n
Forward Kieron Walton, a sixth-round pick in 2024, has joined the club after finishing his junior career with the Peterborough Petes. He\u2019s currently dealing with an injury, and it\u2019s unclear if he\u2019ll see any game action. Kevin He, another 2024 fourth-rounder, is also banged up and missed the final playoff game for his Flint Firebirds of the OHL.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so excited to play in the playoffs. It\u2019s a huge opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n
College free-agent signings have also been added to the mix, including forward Lucas Wahlin (six games, one goal, two assists), defenceman Lukas Gustafsson (five games, one assist) and forward Davis Burnside (two games, no points).<\/p>\n
All of this comes in addition to other Moose draft picks, including the red-hot Colby Barlow, who scored four goals in the final four games. Veteran centre David Gustafsson has just returned from injury, while Parker Ford, Danny Zhilkin, Jacob Julien and Fabian Wagner round out the forward group with direct links to the Jets.<\/p>\n
\n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\tThe Warm-Up<\/p>\n
Winnipeg Jets Game Days<\/p>\n
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.<\/p>\n
\t\t\tSign up for The Warm-Up<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t On the back end, the Moose feature Isaak Phillips, who led the team in defensive scoring with 10 goals and 19 assists while also making a few appearances with the Jets this year, along with the tough-as-nails Tyrel Bauer, who might have made his NHL debut if not for a late-season injury he just returned from this weekend<\/p>\n In goal, both netminders are Winnipeg draft picks: Thomas Milic, who made his NHL debut earlier this season, and Dom DiVincentiis.<\/p>\n The Moose also have several veteran depth players with NHL experience, including leading scorer Mason Shaw, Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Samuel Fagemo, Phil Di Giuseppe, Walker Duehr, Kale Clague and Ashton Sautner.<\/p>\n Add it all up, and head coach Mark Morrison will have plenty to consider as he fills out his lineup card.<\/p>\n www.winnipegfreepress.com\/mikemcintyre<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Mike McIntyre Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. Read more about Mike<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Mike produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Reporter
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