Late Goal Gives Moose 2-1 Win Over Flames

Published on March 2, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


WINNIPEG, MB. - Though the Manitoba Moose carried a 1-0 lead through to the final minutes of the third period, a goal by Quad City threatened the home team's chances for victory. But with three minutes left in the game, Jannik Hansen beat Curtis McElhinney to secure a 2-1 win for Manitoba. With 26 saves, goalie Cory Schneider earned his fourth straight win, 12th of the season, and first-star honours.

McElhinney, Schneider, and Manitoba's left goal post stopped one shot each in the game's first five minutes. Near the midway point of the opening frame, consecutive Flames penalties offered the Moose back-to-back powerplays, but the home team was unable to register more than one shot on net and trailed the Flames three shots to two.

At 15:15, Colby Genoway served two minutes for interference and Quad City's powerplay unit made its debut. Like the Moose, the Flames also managed only one shot on the man advantage, helping both goaltenders stay perfect through the first period.

Quad City dominated the early minutes of the second period, firing five shots on Schneider before Manitoba registered an attempt. Though Schneider saw most of the action, the prettiest save of the game belonged to McElhinney, who robbed Jannik Hansen of a wide-open net with a quick and magnetic glove hand.

Though the Flames goalie stole the spotlight on that play, Moose defenceman Nathan McIver stole it back soon after. Poised at the point, McIver fired a rocket through traffic and into the net to scored the first goal of the game and put the Moose up 1-0 at 11:09.

Two minutes later, a fired-up Mike Brown squared off with Quad City's Brett Sutter at center ice and landed a handful of lefts and rights to dominate the scrap. Only four seconds after the following face-off, Pierre-Cedric Labrie and Matt Pelech dropped the gloves and grappled near the Moose bench in an extended wrestling match.

The four fighters were soon joined by Flames winger Carsen Germyn in the penalty box, who was called for cross-checking and unsportsmanlike conduct, offering the Moose a four-minute powerplay. But the AHL's fifth-ranked penalty killers stifled Manitoba's offense and the Moose were unable to extend their lead by the end of the second.

The Flames broke the 20-shot mark near the midway point of the final frame, but it would take 22 shots to break Schneider. Stationed near the top of the Moose crease, David Van der Gulik received a backhand pass from Grant Stevenson, and though he broke his stick while firing, the shot fooled Schneider and hit the top corner of the net to tie the game at one with 7:23 left to play.

At 2:57, Manitoba's top line recovered the lead. Though Jason Jaffray missed a pass from Brad Moran, Hansen was perfectly positioned to receive the feed and redirect it over McElhinney's right shoulder to put the Moose up 2-1.

Hansen's go-ahead goal would prove to be the game-winner, and Manitoba's Sunday afternoon victory salvaged their weekend two-game series vs. Quad City and kept them in second place in the North Division.

LOOKING AHEAD: Manitoba heads out on a five-game road trip, starting next Friday night in Hamilton. The club's next home game is scheduled for Wednesday, March 19 vs. San Antonio.

NEXT GAME: FRIDAY, MAR. 7 (COPPS COLISEUM - HAMILTON, ON.)

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American Hockey League Stories from March 2, 2008


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