By Scott Fisher /

Most teams couldn’t wait to get home following a marathon seven-game road trip.

But perhaps not the Manitoba Moose.

The Moose won the first five tilts of their trip, running their winning streak to nine games before a 6-3 loss in Syracuse on Nov. 8.

After one last game in Rochester Nov. 10, the Moose were set to return home for a six-
game homestand.

Goaltender Cory Schneider is the biggest reason for the squad’s success.

The Marblehead, Man., product went 7-1 through his first eight starts with a league-best 1.25 GAA and .945 save percentage.

Schneider has benefited from a balanced attack that saw 10 players put up at least a half-dozen points through the first 12 games.

One of them is second-year winger Michael Grabner, who is well on his way to accomplishing the 30-goal campaign he had coveted prior to the season.

“I’d like to get 30 goals, but the biggest thing is to improve my game and be consistent,” Grabner told Sun Media.

The former WHL star had a team-high six goals and eight points in the first 12 games.

“I don’t think there’s been a game where I haven’t had a shot on goal yet.

“I’m trying to focus on getting my shot through and get chances, then the goals will come.”

The 21-year-old Austrian potted 88 goals and 129 points in 188 games with the 
Spokane Chiefs.

But he decided to get a head start on this year’s campaign.

He showed up at the Vancouver Canucks’ training camp seven weeks early to ensure he was in the best possible shape — and work out with Canucks strength and conditioning coach 
Roger Takahashi.

“He helped me make sure my conditioning was where it needed to be,” Grabner told 
Sun Media.

“I knew it would be better to have someone with me to tell me what to do. That helped me push myself.”

Grabner scored 22 goals and 44 points during his rookie AHL season, and seems determined to smash those marks.

Playing on a productive second unit with Mark Cullen and rookie Rymond Sawada, Grabner said he’s happy with the quick start, but he has bigger goals in mind.

“We’ve got some chemistry going and we’re creating a lot of chances,” he told Sun Media.

“It’s nice to get off to a good start, but I want to get better as the year goes on and be at my best in the playoffs.”

Cullen, who racked up three goals and nine points in a dozen games, said his linemate has made life easier for him this season.

“First and foremost, it’s his speed,” Cullen told Sun Media. “He has the speed that not many guys in the league have and he can finish, too.

“Those are his two biggest strengths. There are a lot of fast guys, but he goes a different speed than the rest of us.”