For the second-straight season, the Manitoba Moose will bring American Hockey League Calder Cup Playoff hockey to Canada Life Centre.

With two games still left to be decided on the 2023 schedule, the Moose can breathe easier knowing they are heading back to the dance, in the 23-team AHL postseason, set to begin in a week.

In winning Tuesday’s game with the Texas Stars 7-5, paired with significant losses by competing clubs, the Moose will officially finish third in the Central Division and make their way to the playoffs once again.

Leon Gawanke scored twice for Manitoba in the win, setting a new single-season record for most goals by Moose defencemen, passing Brett Hauer from the 2000-01 season.

“Yeah, it’s good stuff,” said Moose forward Jeff Malott, of the team clinching a postseason berth. “It’s kinda the goal at the beginning of the year. It’s what we’re working towards and hopefully we can continue to build on this game and hit our stride come playoffs.”

Manitoba will play either the Texas Stars or the Milwaukee Admirals in the opening round. The team went 5-2-0-1 against Texas this year, and 4-2-1-1 in its games against Milwaukee.

This is the 17th time that the Moose franchise will compete in the AHL playoffs, which includes both Manitoba IHL days as well as playing as the St. John’s IceCpas in the early Jets 2.0 era. Manitoba last made it to the Calder Cup back in 2009, while St. John’s did so in 2014.