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Moose Blanks Admirals 3-0

January 13, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


Coming into Thursday's game, the Manitoba Moose (22-12-0-4) and the Milwaukee Admirals (23-12-2-4) were two of the hottest teams in the AHL. Goaltending proved to be the key in tonight's game as Moose goaltender and defending AHL goalie of the month Eddie Lack stopped 27 shots, earning a 3-0 shutout against the Admirals at the MTS Centre in front of 6,211. The win gave the Moose their 10th win in their last 12 games.

The first period started off with both teams generating offensive chances but unable to get on the board. As the period progressed, Moose goaltender Eddie Lack displayed why he was the recipient of the AHL's goalie of the month as he had stopped eight shots by the 10:00 mark of the first.

The Moose fought back circulating the puck in the offensive zone as Moose Captain Nolan Baumgartner beat Admirals goaltender Mark Dekanich but was unable to beat the post.

Shortly after at 15:18, Baumgartner was given another chance and made it count as he fired home his third goal of the year, assisted by Mark Flood and Sergei Shirokov. Shirokov's assist marked his 11th straight game with a point moving him past former Moose Jason Krog and Brad Moran for the AHL franchise record.

Nearing the end of the first while shorthanded, Manitoba's Mario Bliznak picked up a loose puck at his own blue line and won an outright foot race with two Admirals defenders but was stopped on the partial breakaway as he tried to tuck the puck between Dekanich's pads.

The Moose entered the first intermission up 1-0 and trailing in the shot department, 7-9.

The Admirals poured on a flurry of shots early in the second period that Eddie Lack weathered without allowing Milwaukee on the board.

At the 10:00 minute mark Lack came up huge as he denied an Admirals two-on-one by kicking the puck away, and again at 13:27 flashing some leather on an Admirals point shot.

At 16:48 Admirals winger Ryan Flynn took a penalty for interference putting the Moose on the power play. With the extra man, Moose defenceman Chris Tanev sent it over to Evan Oberg who saw an opening and took it, unloading a slapshot past Dekanich and putting the Moose up 2-0. Dekanich had difficulty seeing Oberg's blast from the point with Moose forward Shawn Weller parked at the top of the crease.

The Moose had the first opportunity of the third period as Guillaume Desbiens delivered a cross ice pass to a streaking Shirokov who was unable to control the puck and missed the open net.

The Admirals bounced back to pepper Lack with shots, but to no avail as Lack shut down all opportunities.

At 7:35 Moose winger Shawn Weller served a delay of game penalty and the Admirals went on the power play, Admirals defenceman Roman Josi was left wide open and rang a slap shot off the post. Right after another Admiral shot knocked the stick out of Lack's hand, Baumgartner quickly gave up his own stick to the goaltender as they killed the rest of the penalty. The Admirals controlled the play in the dying minutes of the game, ringing yet another shot off the post and proving that the goalposts really are a goalie's best friend.

With 1:00 remaining, the Admirals pulled the goaltender and added an extra attacker. Moose winger Tommy Maxwell broke up the last minute Admirals push and fired the puck into the open net putting the final touches on the Moose 3-0 victory. The Moose and Admirals will take Friday off before meeting for the rematch on Saturday night at MTS Centre. The first 3500 fans through the door on Saturday will get a commemorative Manitoba Moose fleece blanket. Game time is 7:30 pm CST with all the action live with Brian Munz on CJOB 68.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 13, 2011


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