Manitoba Drops New Year's Day Clash with Chicago 3-2

Published on January 1, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


Whether it's the home cooking or the crowd, the Manitoba Moose (17-11-0-4) have been unbeatable on their current home stand with wins in their last five games at MTS Centre. The Moose dealt the Chicago Wolves (20-16-2-1) a defeat on New Year's Eve and hoped to ring in 2011 the same way. In front of 6,453, Manitoba scored twice on former Moose goalie Drew MacIntyre but Wolves defenceman Paul Postma was involved in three Chicago goals helping his team to a 3-2 win on Saturday night.

Marco Rosa made the game's first penalty box trip at 3:37 of the opening period after getting his stick caught in a defenceman's skates while pursuing on the forecheck. The Moose successfully killed that penalty and Rosa returned to the ice in time to join Manitoba's first power play at 5:57.

While cutting across the slot in Chicago's zone, Rosa threaded a pass in the opposite direction to Bill Sweatt. Sweatt didn't get all of the puck on his attempted one timer but got enough to beat Drew MacIntyre in the Wolves net. Sweatt's eighth goal of the season scored at 7:11 extended point streaks for Rosa (now 2 goals, 4 assists in four games) and Sweatt (2 goals, 3 assists in four games).

The third penalty in the game's first 10 minutes was called on Moose goalie Eddie Lack. Lack was called for holding at 8:52 as he interfered with a Wolves forechecker. While shorthanded, Moose penalty killers Mario Bliznak and Guillaume Desbiens broke in on a two-on-one. Bliznak carried into the Chicago zone and sauced a perfect pass to Desbiens who was then robbed by MacIntyre's glove hand on the shot. It was the best scoring chance for either team during the man advantage.

For a period with four power plays, two for each team, only seven shots hit the net in the opening 20 minutes. Five by the Wolves and two by the Moose. On Bill Sweatt's early goal the Moose held a 1-0 lead at the first intermission.

The Wolves drew even at 10:52 of the second period with Manitoba's Josh Aspenlind parked in the penalty box for roughing. Eddie Lack was tested constantly during the first minute of the power play but was eventually beaten on a screened wrist shot by point man Paul Postma.

Postma is one of only two AHL defencemen with more shots on goal this season than Moose blue liner Lee Sweatt. Entering the game, Postma had 106 to Sweatt's 95.

The Moose have outshot their opponent many times this season and in each of the last three games. Uncharacteristically, the Wolves outshot the Moose 16-8 through two periods and rang three shots off of the iron behind Eddie Lack. Regardless, the Moose and Wolves sat deadlocked 1-1 at the second intermission.

Chicago's burly forward Andre Deveaux planted himself in front of Eddie Lack early in the first period while Paul Postma put a low point shot on the Moose ‘tender. Then after Lack kicked the shot attempt just to the right of the crease, Deveaux tapped in the rebound for the Wolves first lead of the game at 1:52 of the third period.

Paul Postma recorded his third point of the night moments later by scoring Chicago's third goal at 3:50. With all five Moose players in tight to their own goal trying to defend a Wolves onslaught, Postma picked up the puck between the hash marks after his first attempt was blocked and wristed one to the top corner, giving his team a 3-1 lead.

Manitoba tied their record for fewest shots in a game (12) with 6:12 remaining. By that point, the Wolves were outshooting the home team 26-12.

With time winding down in the game, Sergei Shirokov's five-game point streak hung in the balance but a lucky bounce off of Drew MacIntyre's pad then the skate of Wolves defenceman Arturs Kulda gave the Moose forward his 10th goal of the season at 15:32 of the third period. After the late goal, the Moose trailed the Wolves 3-2.

Time ran out on Manitoba's chance for a seventh straight win as Chicago won 3-2. The Moose were outshot 29-16 in the game.

The Moose head to Abbotsford for an early week series. The Heat host the Moose on Monday and Tuesday night at the Abbotsford Sports & Entertainment Centre. Game time for both is 9:00 pm CST. Hear the action live with Brian Munz on CJOB 68.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 1, 2011


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