Kesler nets pair in Moose win

Published on April 13, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


The Manitoba Moose were able to hold on to defeat the Edmonton Road Runners 3-2 in AHL action Tuesday night at Rexall Place. Ryan Kesler scored two goals and Jeff Heerema had three assists in the victory.

Wade Flaherty got the start for Manitoba for the second consecutive game while Jeff Deslauriers got the nod for the Road Runners.

University of Manitoba product and Winnipeg native Jordan Little made his AHL debut tonight. Little was Edmonton's selection in "Making the Cut" and most recently played at Rexall Place as a member of the Bisons in the National Championship.

The first big scoring chance of the game came on a Raffi Torres partial breakaway. Flaherty made the inital stop and the rebound travelled along the goal line but didn't cross.

Nolan Baumgartner and Brad Winchester dropped the gloves after Baumgartner went to the aid of Danny Groulx, who was being pestered by Winchester. The bout was even between the two combatants.

After initially being outshot 5-1 in the period, the Moose recovered and carried the play for the latter half of the opening frame.

Peter Sarno was robbed by Edmonton's Deslauriers 15 minutes into the period. Sarno tried to shovel it by the rookie netminder but was denied thanks to a spectacular skate save.

After one, shots were 7-6 with the game remaining scoreless.

The Moose carried their late first period momentum into the second. Jeff Heerema fed Ryan Kesler, who fired a shot short side to score the game's first goal for Manitoba. Deslauriers was partially screened by Goren on the play.

Midway through the period, the momentum shifted back Edmonton's way. The Moose raced out to a 5-2 shot advantage early in the middle frame but Edmonton fired the next eight shots in the period.

Eventually, the Runners were able to put one past Flaherty. Raffi Torres scooped up a rebound on the Moose netminder and potted his 20th of the season to tie the game at 1-1.

The Moose found their legs again as the period went on thanks to a Torres high sticking major. Two minutes into the penalty, Deslauriers made three great stops in succession off Heerema, Schultz and Sarno.

Sarno finally solved Deslauriers at the 13:25 mark. He took a pass from Heerema and scored to put Manitoba back in the lead.

Deslauriers didn't let the goal bother him, continuing his strong play by making big saves off Nathan Smith and Alexandre Burrows on in-close chances.

Edmonton responded back at the other end of the ice. Torres netted his second of the game, beating Flaherty stick side with a high backhand to make it 2-2.

Tensions heated up between the two prairie rivals in the final seconds of the middle frame. Jeff Woywitka and Kevin Bieksa dropped the gloves and engaged in fisticuffs.

Deslauriers managed to hold the fort in the final 10 seconds with a solid scoring chance by Heerema as time was running out in the period.

Shots in the period even 11-11 with Manitoba holding an 18-17 lead in the game overall.

The bad blood spilled over into the third. After Sean McAslan levelled Nathan Smith, Brookbank came to his rescue but got a roughing penalty for his efforts. The penalty increased his PIM total to 285, a new Moose franchise record. The penalty gave Edmonton their first powerplay of the game.

Desperation set in for Manitoba as they carried the play in the first half of the period. It resulted in the team's third goal of the game.

Bieksa picked up the puck from a neat drop pass by Heerema. He then rifled it towards the net where it was tipped in front by Kesler and slipped past Deslauriers' five-hole.

Edmonton ramped up the pressure in the game's final minute after Kent Huskins took a cross-checking penalty. With their goaltender pulled, the Runners had a six-on-four advantage.

The best chance came when Brad Winchester was standing at the side of the net but couldn't stuff it past Flaherty.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 13, 2005


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