Moose Can't Take the Heat in 3-2 Shootout Loss

Published on January 21, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


WINNIPEG, MB - Following the first half of their eight-game season series, home turf finally changed between the Manitoba Moose (24-12-1-5) and Abbotsford Heat (21-18-2-4). The Moose won three of the four games played in Abbotsford and hosted the first of four more at MTS Centre on Friday night in front of 8,153. The game was decided in a shootout with Abbotsford's Jon Rheault scoring the winner and Heat goalie Leland Irving stopping four of five in the 3-2 shootout win.

In his first shift in 16 games, Moose forward Jordan Schroeder took the ice next to Marco Rosa and the team's active leading scorer Bill Sweatt.

Manitoba's Kevin Clark drew the first penalty of the game as he charged into Abbotsford's end and was hauled down by Heat defenceman, and fellow Manitoban, Gord Baldwin.

That power play ended after 32 seconds, when a Mark Flood slapshot was deflected at the side of the net by Moose winger Jordan Schroeder. The goal at 6:37 was Schroeder's sixth of the season. Captain and soon to be bobblehead (see Moose-Heat rematch on Sunday) Nolan Baumgartner also drew an assist on the power play marker.

Moose centre Dusty Collins, who recorded a goal and a fight in his second game with the team on Wednesday, took part in another dust up on Friday. This time he regrettably took on Heat enforcer Ryley Grantham at 12:08 of the first.

The Heat tied the game 1-1 at 14:58 by no credit of their own. Cam Cunning fired a shot from the neutral zone on Moose goalie Eddie Lack, who then attempted to sweep the puck behind the net from his knees but instead backhanded it into his own goal.

Recently added Moose forward Ryan Cruthers scored his first AHL goal on Wednesday night. Thanks to a fortuitous bounce early in the second period, Cruthers was right place and time depositing a rebound past the Heat's Leland Irving for his second AHL goal. The rebound chance came courtesy of a Kevin Connauton point shot.

Abbotsford's Cam Cunning was charging away from two Moose defencemen but was held back by the arm of Lee Sweatt. The call on the ice was not a penalty, but instead "the most exciting play in hockey" as the Heat were awarded a penalty shot late in the seonc period. Cunning leg kicked into a backhand deke that fooled Lack, giving Abbotsford the game tying goal at 15:56 of the middle frame.

Heat defenceman Matt Pelech took a late holding penalty to put the Moose on the power play for the final 1:49 of the period which likely felt like a lot longer to Abbotsford goalie Leland Irving. The Moose piled on scoring chances that Irving handled with some difficulty keeping the score tied 2-2.

In the way of scoring chances, the third period was quiet. The first notable play occured at the expense of Moose centre Marco Rosa. He was at the receiving end of a knee-on-knee collision with Heat centre Lance Bouma and left the ice in visible pain at 7:05 of the third period. The Moose then failed to capitalize on the resulting power play.

The Moose outshot the Heat 9-6 in the third period but neither team could break the 2-2 deadlock.

The tie remained through the overtime period until the shootout round. Kevin Clark scored the first goal of the shootout for Manitoba but the Heat answered with goals by Greg Nemisz and Jon Rheault. Leland Irving stopped four of five in the shootout and 24 more during regulation in the 3-2 shootout Heat win. Manitoba hosts the Heat again on Sunday for a noon game on Nolan Baumgartner Bobblehead Day. Doors at MTS Centre open at 11 a.m. CST with the first 5,000 fans receiving a limited edition Baumgartner bobblehead. Brian Munz and Jim Toth have all the action on CJOB 68. Hear it online at www.cjob.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 21, 2011


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