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Leafs top line silences Moose

February 12, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


Alex Auld got the start in goal for the Moose with Jean-Francois Racine getting the nod for the second straight game in the Baby Leafs net.

It didn't take St. John's long to get on the board. Kyle Wellwood intercepted a Joe DiPenta clearing attempt, setting up a two-on-one with David Ling. Wellwood fed the puck to Ling, who rifled it glove-side past Auld.

The Moose came right back after the goal and almost evened it up. Nathan Smith's shot was picked out of the air by Racine. After the scoring opportunity, Jimmy Roy and Carlo Colaiacovo dropped the gloves. Neither combatant came away with the edge.

On the exchange, Roy got the extra two minutes and the Leafs capitalized seconds later. Harold Druken one-timed a pass from Wellwood after a mad scramble that eluded Auld to make it a 2-0 game.

Another fight broke out two minutes after the St. John's goal. Dominic D'Amour wrestled Chanse Fitzpatrick to the ice with the Moose getting a powerplay out of the bout this time. D'Amour received two extra minutes for roughing.

J-F Racine made a stellar glove save off Alex Burrows midway through the period. Shots at that point were 4-2 for the Moose despite the two-goal lead for St. John's.

Late in the period, Josh Green broke in and attempted a backhand shot that was turned away by the Leafs netminder.

In the final minute of the first, a melee erupted with fights involving Wilm, Moro, Goren and Brookbank. Brookbank also received a game misconduct for intervening on the Goren-Moro fight.

The final shot count in the opening period was 11-9 for the Baby Leafs.

The Moose penalty killers did a good job dodging the bullet early in the second, killing off several penalties including a Leafs two-man advantage.

The remainder of the period was penalty free and the shot-count overall was 12-11 for the Baby Leafs.

Manitoba made things interesting in the third period, beginning with a goal by Josh Green at the one-minute mark that made it a 2-1 game.

The Moose continued to put on the pressure early in the final frame. Jason King turned Brendan Bell inside out before rifling a shot on Racine. The Leafs netminder made a skate save.

Just as the Moose were gaining momentum, Kyle Wellwood scored to make it a 3-1 game. He took a pass from Druken and scored his 25th of the year.

St. John's made it 4-1 on a delayed penalty to Alexandre Burrows. Nathan Barrett lifted a shot over Auld's shoulder to make it a three-goal game.

Brett Engelhardt added the fifth St. John's marker late in the game. He fired a shot from the right faceoff circle over the shoulder of Auld.

Ben Ondrus made it 6-1 several minutes later in a carbon copy of Engelhardt's goal.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 12, 2005


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