Gut Check Time

Published on April 11, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


The Manitoba Moose played out the regular season in the midst of a dog fight with Hamilton and Lake Erie as all three teams vied for top spot in the North Division. Over the course of the weekend, Manitoba slid from a tie for first place down to third spot in the division. Hamilton took over the top spot leaving the Moose and Monsters to duke it out in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Friday, April 8, 2011: Manitoba 3, Hamilton 6 The weekend series between the Moose and Bulldogs was touted as a first place battle with both teams tied atop the North Division. The scoreless first period played out like a battle, but the visiting Bulldogs escaped with the game during a three-goal second period. Aaron Palushaj scored three times for Hamilton helping the Bulldogs to a 6-3 win. The power play was effective for both teams as both Manitoba and Hamilton capitalized twice in the game.

Saturday, April 9, 2011: Manitoba 1, Hamilton 3 The Hamilton Bulldogs picked up where they left off by opening the score just 28 seconds into the first period. Winnipeg's Dustin Boyd, who centers Hamilton's top line with Nigel Dawes and Aaron Palushaj, scored his second goal of the weekend as the Moose dug a hole they never climbed out of. The Bulldogs led 3-0 after a second period power play goal and only allowed one against with 2:49 left to play. Manitoba's Alexandre Bolduc broke Drew MacIntyre's shutout bid with less than three minutes to go in the season, but it was too little too late as Hamilton took game 80 by a 3-1 score.

Moose Notes

PLAYOFF HISTORY: The Moose have now qualified for the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs in seven straight seasons. They are preparing to face the Lake Erie Monsters for the first time in the postseason. The furthest the Moose have ever advanced in the Calder Cup Playoffs was in 2009 when Manitoba lost to Hershey in the Calder Cup Finals in six games. Aside from 2009, the only other time the Moose have advanced beyond the second round was in 2005 when they were swept by the Chicago Wolves in the conference finals.

COUNT ON MARCO: Marco Rosa continues to be Manitoba's most consistent scorer since returning to the lineup on Mar. 25/11. He scored on the power play on Friday improving to 11 points (6g, 5a) in the past eight games. He also scored the game winning goal on Sunday when the Moose clinched their playoff spot in Toronto. Rosa's best offensive performance this season came on Mar. 30/11 when he recorded three power play points (1g, 2a) helping Manitoba to a 5-4 shootout win over Rochester.

THE SCHEDULE: The Moose open the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs on the road with games one & two on April 16 & 17 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. Game one begins at 11 a.m. and game two at 2 p.m. Games three, four, and if necessary game five will be played at MTS Centre on April 19, 21, & 22. All game times in Winnipeg are at 7:30 p.m. Finally, if necessary games six & seven will take place back in Cleveland on April 24 & 26 at 3 p.m. & 6 p.m. respectively. All game times in Central Time.

Upcoming Opponent

Game one @ Lake Erie - Apr. 16 - 11:00 p.m.

Game two @ Lake Erie - Apr. 17 - 2:00 p.m.

Game three vs. Lake Erie - Apr. 19 - 7:30 p.m.

Game four vs. Lake Erie - Apr. 21 - 7:30 p.m.

*Game five vs. Lake Erie - Apr. 22 - 7:30 p.m.

*Game six @ Lake Erie - Apr. 24 - 3:00 p.m.

*Game seven @ Lake Erie - Apr. 26 - 6:00 p.m. * - if necessary

The Moose will take on the Lake Erie Monsters in their first postseason appearance in franchise history. Manitoba and Lake Erie have split their four game season series with two wins apiece, including one each in the opposition city. The series opens on Apr. 16 & 17 in Cleveland, OH with game one starting at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday morning.

Player of the Week Nominee

Yann Sauve

In a week where the Moose lost both weekend games against Hamilton, rookie defenceman Yann Sauve was Manitoba's only player with a point in both games... Sauve finished the week with a +1 rating... At the end of his first AHL season Sauve finished with 14 points (3g & 11) in 39 games...

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American Hockey League Stories from April 11, 2011


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