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Eight straight wins for first place Moose

March 19, 2007 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


The Manitoba Moose continued to pile up the wins after completing their "three-games-in-three-days" road trip with three more victories in week 24. The three-game sweep for the Moose increased their first place lead in the North to eight points over the Hamilton Bulldogs and moved them into sole possession of first in the Western Conference with 89 points, two more than the Chicago Wolves. Manitoba improved their road record to 17-10-4-2, and their overall record this season to 39-17-7-4, eight wins shy of the franchise record for most wins in a season set in 1998-99 with 47.

Friday, March 16, 2007: Moose 3 Griffins 2 SOW

The Moose started their road trip with the first of back-to-back games versus the Grand Rapids Griffins at Van Andel Arena Friday night. The big story in this game was the injury to starting goaltender Wade Flaherty, who had his leg slammed against the post in a collision with a team-mate. Flaherty had to be helped off the ice, and after further tests the diagnosis is a third degree tear of the MCL on his right knee, he is expected to be out 6-8 weeks. Drew MacIntyre stepped in to replace Flats allowing an early goal to the Griffins, but he settled in after that and looked good against his former club. The Moose looked to be in trouble for the first two periods as they could not beat Jimmy Howard despite firing 24 shots at him through 40:00. The club finally found the mark early in the third period striking for two quick goals to take the lead. Brad Moran and Yannick Tremblay scored 1:10 apart to give the Moose their first lead of the game. Tony Voce scored just a few minutes later to tie it for the Griffins as this one would require extra time to decide a winner. Brad Norton took a boarding penalty late in regulation to give the Moose a great chance to end the game on the powerplay in overtime, but they could not capitalize and the game would head to a shootout. After eight shooters Moose forward Jesse Schultz scored the game-winner, roofing a shot over the glove of Jimmy Howard to clinch the extra two points for the Moose and extend their winning streak to six games.

Saturday, March 17, 2007: Moose 3 Griffins 2 W

Saturday the Moose played their final game of the season at Van Andel Arena. Jason Jaffray scored the opening goal of the game his 32nd of the season to stake the team to an early lead but Kip Miller, Grand Rapids' leading scorer, tied it a few minutes later. Manitoba's top line combined on two quick powerplay goals in the second period to take control of the game, Jaffray notched his 33rd and Lee Goren his 22nd, giving the Moose a 3-2 lead. Manitoba did allow another goal before the second period would end but that was all they would allow as they shut the Griffins down in the third period to secure their seventh straight win. The victory improved Manitoba's record versus Grand Rapids this season to 4-1-0-1 and marked the first time this season that the Moose had won the first two games of a "3-in-3" stretch.

Sunday, March 18, 2007: Moose 4 Rivermen 0 W

Sunday the Moose travelled to Peoria for the first time this season, after defeating the Rivermen twice earlier in the year at the MTS Centre. Dov Grumet-Morris, called up from Cincinnati of the ECHL was given his first start in a Moose uniform, and he made the most of it. Nathan Smith scored his 17th goal of the season on the powerplay at 9:07 of the first period and that turned out to be the game winner as Grumet-Morris made 28 saves on the night to thwart the Rivermen time-after-time in the Moose goal. The victory was the eighth straight for Manitoba, and their 17th in their last 18 games improving their record to 39-17-7-4. The win also improved Manitoba's record versus Peoria this season to a perfect 3-0-0-0, allowing just one goal against in those three games combined.

This week Manitoba won't have time to rest and reflect on their sparkling win-streak as they jump right back on the horse Tuesday and Wednesday at the MTS Centre, hosting the Houston Aeros in a two game set. It will be the only visit the Minnesota Wild farm club makes to the MTS Centre this season. Tuesday the Moose will honour Isreal Idonije, a former University of Manitoba Bisons standout and now Chicago Bears star in the NFL, for his accomplishments this past season as the Bears made it all the way to the Super Bowl. Israel will drop the puck in special pre-game ceremony and will be available to sign autographs in between the first and second period. The Moose will conclude the week by finishing off a four-games-in-five-nights stretch, hosting the Grand Rapids Griffins for the final time this season on Friday and Saturday at the MTS Centre. Saturday's game is Folklorama night at the MTS Centre, where several local performing groups will showcase their talent throughout the concourse. The 2007 Manitoba Moose team posters will be handed out after the game to fans on their way out of the building.

MOOSE NOTES

Wrapping up the regular season: Despite having 13 regular-season games left to play, the Manitoba Moose have already posted the organization's third-best record in the last 30 games of the regular season. Dating back to game #51 (Feb. 9/07 vs. SYR), Manitoba has a record of 16-1-0-0, only ten points shy of the club's best-ever pre-playoff point performance. In 1997-98, the Moose went 19-9-0-2 in the last 30 games of the regular season, earning 40 of 60 possible points; the following season, Manitoba went 18-7-0-6 in the last 30 games for 42 of 60 possible points. With 13 games left to play-all vs. Western Conference opponents-the Moose could gain up to 26 points in the standings before their first Calder Cup clash.

Re-writing the record book: Riding the hottest winning-percentage in the AHL-including 17 wins in the past 18 games and nine in a row at the MTS Centre-the Moose have their sights set on a number of franchise records. Heading into Tuesday's game vs. Houston, Manitoba needs only two wins out of six remaining home games to tie the team record for most home wins in a single season (24 wins, set in 1998-99 and 2005-06). The Moose have already set a new record for longest winning streak at home (nine games, from Feb. 3/07 to present) and are one win shy of tying the franchise record for consecutive games gaining a point at home (11 games, set from Dec. 22/99 - Feb. 5/00). For the second time this season, Manitoba is also approaching the club's record for longest winning streak. From Feb.3 - 23/07, the Moose squad won nine games in a row, setting the benchmark for the current season but one win shy of the team record of 10 consecutive wins set in 2000-01. Sunday night's victory over the Peoria Rivermen was Manitoba's eighth in a row.

Jaffray setting records of his own: With his two-goals in Saturday night's game versus the Grand Rapids Griffins, Jason Jaffray broke the Manitoba Moose record for goals scored by a left winger in a single season. Jaffray now has 33 goals on the year breaking the record previously held by Chris Govedaris who had 31 goals in the 1995-96 season. Jaffray has also broken the record for most game-winning goals in a season by a Moose player with nine, a record previously held by Scott Thomas (98-99) with eight. Jaffray's 73 points has also broken the record for most points scored by a Moose left winger in a season passing Moose head coach Scott Arniel's record of 70 points in 1997-98. Jaffray needs only two more assists to tie the record for most assists by a left winger, also held by Scott Arniel with 42 (97-98). Jaffray is also nearing another Moose goal-scoring record as he now has 15 powerplay goals this season, the Moose record is 16 shared by Lee Goren (04-05) and Scott Thomas (98-99). Manitoba's franchise mark for the most goals by a single player in a season is 45 set by Scott Thomas in 1998-99. The record for most assists in a season (84) and most points (114) were both set by Stephane Morin in the 1994-95 season.

Moose penalty-kill outstanding: The Manitoba Moose are having their best year ever killing penalties, in fact, the team is having one of the best seasons in AHL history killing penalties with a PK% of 89.8, good for first overall in the AHL this season. The record for best penalty-killing percentage in any season is held by the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at 90.66% set in 2003-04. Manitoba is on the verge of shattering their previous record for powerplay goals allowed in a season. With only 13 games left to play this season, Manitoba has allowed a miniscule 36 powerplay goals against, their previous best mark was 86 set in the 1995-96 season. During Manitoba's current stretch of 17 wins in 18 games the team has killed off an impressive 78-of-83 powerplays good for 94.0%. The Moose would have to allow more than two powerplay goals against in every game from now until the end of the season to fall short of breaking that record.

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS

Manitoba starts a four-games-in-five-nights stretch by hosting the Houston Aeros at the MTS Centre Tuesday, March 20th and Wednesday, March 21st for the only time this season. Earlier this year the Moose split their two games played at the Toyota Center, a 4-1 victory Dec. 14/06 and a 3-1 loss Dec. 16/06. That loss was the only one in a 17 game stretch starting Dec. 8/06 that saw the Moose earn points in 16 of those 17 games (12-1-2-2). Last season the Moose went 2-2-0-0 versus the Aeros, splitting the two games played at the MTS Centre. The last time the Moose faced the Aeros in Winnipeg was Nov. 18/05 where Houston scored three unanswered goals to earn a 3-2 victory.

Manitoba will play their final two games of the season versus the Grand Rapids Griffins this Friday, March, 23rd and Saturday, March, 24th at the MTS Centre. The Moose are 4-1-0-1 versus the Griffins this season, winning both games played at the MTS Centre Nov.7 and 8/06 by identical 2-1 scores.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE

#37 Lee Goren - Right Wing

For the second consecutive week, Lee Goren has been nominated as Moose Player of the Week...Goren appeared in all three games this week - all victories for Manitoba as they stretched their winning streak to eight games now with three straight on the road...After being held scoreless in Friday night's shootout win over the Griffins, Goren scored his 22nd goal of the season on Saturday which proved to be his fifth game-winning goal of the season...That night, he also added a pair of assists on goals by Jason Jaffray...Then Sunday, Goren added an assist against Peoria...He finished the week with a goal and three assists for four points...He was also +3 with 11 shots on net...Goren now leads the team with 192 shots on net on the season...He remains third in overall team scoring with 22 goals and 39 assists for 61 points in 59 games...

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