Moose Chase But Can't Catch Griffins

Published on April 11, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


GRAND RAPIDS, MI. -- Though the Manitoba Moose kept grasping at comeback, the Grand Rapids Griffins converted an early two-goal lead into a 6-3 victory Friday night. Alexandre Bolduc, Colby Genoway and Greg Rallo scored for the Moose, while Griffins forward Evan McGrath led all skaters with three points in the game.

Moose netminder Drew MacIntyre was called upon to face his former club for the sixth time this season, but Griffins goalie Adam Berkhoel would be the first to face the puck. Though Manitoba out-shot Grand Rapids 3-1 in the first five minutes, the Griffins assumed the game's first lead, thanks to a two-on-one surge completed by forward Francis Lemieux.

Four minutes later, a hooking penalty to Jon Insana gave the Moose the chance to tie it up on the powerplay, but the home team held strong through the two minutes and maintained their one-goal lead.

Though the Moose were unable to score on the powerplay, the Griffins wasted no time taking advantage of their man-advantage. With Daniel Rahimi in the penalty box for holding, Grand Rapids' Tyler Redenbach received a feed at the top of the face-off circle and redirected the puck past MacIntyre to give the Griffins a 2-0 lead heading into the second period.

Only 19 seconds into the second period, Bolduc put the Moose back within one. After earning the puck in the Manitoba zone, the forward sped through the neutral zone and past the defenders to beat Berkhoel on a breakaway.

Grand Rapids' Randall Gelech ensured the one-goal game wouldn't last long, however. Although MacIntyre stopped a handful of shots from a swarming flock of Griffins, a rebound made its way out to Gelech at the slot, who capitalized on a screen to set the score at 3-1.

An interference penalty to Garrett Stafford put the Moose back on the powerplay, but the five-on-four did little to help Manitoba's cause. While battling on the penalty kill, Griffins center Darren Helm broke into the Moose zone and scored shorthanded to put his club up 4-1 on 16 shots through the first two periods.

Although the Moose slipped to 0-for-4 on the powerplay early in the third, Genoway's patience resulted in Manitoba's second even-strength goal of the game. After waiting for a line change while holding onto the puck, Genoway descended into the open Griffins zone and wrapped the puck around Berkhoel's left skate.

But like in the second period, the Griffins soon re-padded their goal cushion. Less than two minutes after Genoway's goal, Helm skated up the slot and backhanded the puck over MacIntyre's glove to notch his second of the game and restore Grand Rapids' three-goal lead.

With less than seven minutes left to play, the Moose struggled to gain some ground by forcing the puck into the net and, simultaneously, the net off its moorings. The goal was disallowed, and Rick Rypien headed to the penalty box for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Upon the return of five-on-five play, Rallo tipped in Luc Bourdon's shot from the point to narrow the goal gap once again. But a late penalty to Moose defenceman Shaun Heshka and a final powerplay goal from net-crashing Evan McGrath secured a 6-3 victory for the Griffins Friday night.

LOOKING AHEAD: The Moose continue their season-closing three-in-three with a rematch vs. the Griffins Saturday night in Grand Rapids.

NEXT GAME: SATURDAY, APRIL 12 (VAN ANDEL ARENA - GRAND RAPIDS, MI.)

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American Hockey League Stories from April 11, 2008


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