Moose Beat Griffins 6-4 for Top Spot in North
January 16, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release
The Moose and Griffins started their match-up on Friday night tied for first place in the North Division, but after Manitoba defeated the hometown Griffins 6-4 they became sole owners of top spot with 58 points. Raymond Sawada netted two goals while Jason Jaffray, Guillaume Desbiens, Michael Grabner and Jason Krog netted singles. Cory Schneider stopped 26 shots for his 15th win this campaign.
With both teams sharing the North Division's top spot, the Moose and Griffins got underway at the Van Andel Arena with Cory Schneider backstopping Manitoba opposite Daniel Larsson in net for Grand Rapids.
The hometown Griffins benefited from the first man-advantage when Travis Ramsey was penalized for hooking a mere 2:11 into the first. Manitoba's penalty killers only allowed one shot on Schneider and killed-off the penalty before the Griffins could find the back of the net.
Grand Rapids had their second chance on the powerplay at 5:03 when Michel Ouellet was put away for hooking, but like the first man-advantage, the Griffins weren't able to capitalize with an extra attacker.
At 8:14, Jason Jaffray fired Manitoba's first shot of the night which resulted in the first goal of the night, with help from Jason Krog, to give the Moose a 1-0 lead.
At the midway point of the first period, and on their second shot, Guillaume Desbiens netted Manitoba's second of the night to put the visitors up by two.
Not even a minute later, Raymond Sawada beat Larsson again by chipping the puck over the tender to put the Moose on top by three. The Griffins opted to switch goalies, putting Jimmy Howard between the pipes.
The Moose capitalized for the fourth time in the first period when Michael Grabner netted his 18th of the season with a blast that sailed over Howard's shoulder.
The second period saw the powerplay tables turn in favor of the Moose, when Jonathan Ericsson was penalized for holding. Even though the Moose brought their shot total to 10 on the five-on-four, they weren't able to make any of them count and play returned to five-on-five.
With Pierre-Cedric Labrie serving a two-minute minor, the Griffins were able to break their goose-egg when Jonathan Ericsson notched his second of the season to adjust the score 4-1.
Manitoba quickly retaliated to regain their four-goal lead, when Jason Krog slid the puck between Howard's legs, his second of the night, for a 5-1 tally.
A short 2:15 into the final frame saw more scoring action from the Manitoba Moose. Raymond Sawada tipped the rebound into the net to earn his second goal of the night and put his team up 6-1.
With the puck situated behind the visiting net, Schneider left his crease to clear it, but the puck deflected off the boards and in front of the empty net to allow Francis Pare to slap it in for a 6-2 score.
At 14:49, a tripping penalty to Nolan Baumgartner put the Griffins on their seventh powerplay of the night and the home team was able to break through for the third time to inch closer 6-3.
At 19:24 the Griffins did it again, this time courtesy of Cory Emmerton. Despite the last period effort from the Griffins the Moose would still take the game in a 6-4 final over Grand Rapids.
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American Hockey League Stories from January 16, 2009
- Houston Aeros Earn 3-2 Shootout Victory Over Toronto Marlies - Houston Aeros
- Wolves Beat Hogs 4-2 in Final Metrocentre Meeting - Rockford IceHogs
- Rivermen Edge Rampage With Last Minute Goal - Peoria Rivermen
- Griffins Fall to Moose, 6-4 - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Late Heroics Give Chops Thrilling 3-2 Win Over Flames - Iowa Chops
- Crunch Exterminate Rats - Syracuse Crunch
- Sens Put One Over on Pens, 6-4 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Bulldogs Shutout Monsters - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Rivermen Capsize Rampage 2-1 - San Antonio Rampage
- Szwez Lifts Phantoms Past Devils - Adirondack Phantoms
- Lacasse Shuts Out Monsters 4-0 - Hamilton Bulldogs
- B-Sens Outlast Penguins in High-Scoring Contest - Binghamton Senators
- Americans Overthrow Monarchy - Manchester Monarchs
- Sharks Bite Back, Top Admirals in Shootout - Norfolk Admirals
- Falcons Lose To Wolf Pack 3-1 - Springfield Falcons
- Wolf Pack Beat Flacons 3-1 - Connecticut Whale
- Moose Beat Griffins 6-4 for Top Spot in North - Manitoba Moose
- Boguniecki Scores Late as Chops Drop Flames - Abbotsford Heat
- River Rats Fall Short In Syracuse 2-1 - Albany River Rats
- Sharks Play Admirably in 3-2 Shootout Win Over Norfolk - Worcester Sharks
- Devils Held Off By Phantoms, 5-4 - Albany Devils
- Pirates Come From Behind To Beat Bruins 5-3 - Portland Pirates
- P-Bruins Fall To Pirates 5-3 - Providence Bruins
- Darren McCarty Autograph Signing Highlights Three Home Games in Four Nights - Grand Rapids Griffins
- B-Sens Loan Mitch O'Keefe to Elmira and Release Josh Aspenlind from PTO - Binghamton Senators
- Don't Miss the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic - Albany Devils
- Houston Aeros to Face Toronto Marlies, Air on Fox Sports Tonight - Houston Aeros
- Lightning Return Goaltender Karri Ramo to Admirals - Norfolk Admirals
- Admirals Celebrate Roscoe's Birthday on Sunday - Milwaukee Admirals
- Labatt's Celebrity Bartending Series Continues January 20 at Chadwick's Sports Bar and Grill - Syracuse Crunch
- Amerks Continue Road Trip In Manchester Tonight - Rochester Americans
- Win a Game-Worn Eric Weinrich Blues Jersey Saturday - Portland Pirates
- AHL Quick Hits - AHL
- Rampage Reassign Gistedt to Arizona - San Antonio Rampage
- Pittsburgh Penguins Recall Janne Pesonen - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Morrison Recalled By Penguins - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Falcons sign Shane Willis to PTO contract - Springfield Falcons
- Griffins or Moose: Who's the Top Dog? - Grand Rapids Griffins
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