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Moose Win 3-1 In Lake Erie With Their Backs Against The Wall

April 24, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


The Manitoba Moose (3-3) produced their most important win of the year at home on Friday night but needed to repeat that performance in Game 6 on Easter Sunday in order to extend their season. The Lake Erie Monsters (3-3) struck first but the visiting Moose responded with three unanswered goals including their first power play goal of the series. Bill Sweatt scored the first two Moose goals before Sergei Shirokov buried the insurance marker for Manitoba. Meanwhile goalie Eddie Lack guarded the fort making 28 saves in a vital 3-1 win in Game 6.

Moose goalie Eddie Lack made his third start of the series on Sunday after posting a perfect 26-save performance in Manitoba's 2-0 win on Friday night. He was impressive when called upon in the first period as the Monsters jumped out to an early 7-1 lead in shots on goal. Lack would face 14 in total through the first 20 minutes of scoreless hockey.

The penalty boxes saw plenty of traffic in the game's first period with the Moose and Monsters combining for five minor penalties. Neither team was able to capitalize on their opportunities with the Moose going 0-for-3. Manitoba continues to struggle on the man advantage in the series as they have yet to score a power play goal in the series.

The Monsters went back to the power play early in the second with credit to a tripping call to Alexandre Bolduc at 0:29. Lake Erie found the scoresheet at 2:10 when Julian Talbot one-timed a pass by Stefan Elliott from the top of the right circle.

It didn't take long for Manitoba to respond as rookie forward Bill Sweatt beat Lake Erie goalie John Grahame with a slap shot along the ice at 3:43. Sweatt's tying goal was his first of the postseason.

Manitoba's fourth power play of the game was negated late in the second period when Bolduc took his second penalty of the period. The Moose were able to kill of the hooking minor before the end of the middle frame and both teams entered the second intermission tied 1-1. The home team Monsters led in shots through two periods, 22-13.

It had to happen eventually, and there was no better time for the Moose to score on the power play than in the third period of a do-or-die game. With Lake Erie's Mark Olver in the box, Moose forward Kevin Clark entered the offensive zone and dropped the puck for Jordan Schroeder whose quick shot was deflected in by Bill Sweatt for the go ahead goal at 7:36. The power play marker ended a postseason streak of 25 opportunities on the man advantage without a goal.

With the Monsters trailing by one late in the game, Lake Erie goalie John Grahame faced an unwelcome odd man rush as Manitoba's top line of Jason Jaffray-Sergei Shirokov-Marco Rosa flew down the ice with the puck. Rosa sent a pass across the front of the net that Shirokov tapped in to give the visiting Moose a 3-1 lead with 2:58 remaining in Game 6. The goal by Shirokov extended his playoff point streak to six games and tied a Moose Calder Cup Playoff record for consecutive games with a point.

The final minutes expired with Manitoba holding onto their 3-1 lead. Eddie Lack weathered any late attempts by the Monsters and finished the game with 28 saves. With the win, the Moose have forced a decisive Game 7 matchup against the Lake Erie Monsters on Tuesday, Apr. 26 at Quicken Loans Arena.

The final game of the North Division Semi-Final between the Moose and Monsters will start at 6 p.m. CT on Tuesday night. CJOB's Brian Munz will call the action live from Quicken Loans Arena. Listen online at www.cjob.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 24, 2011


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