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Moose come back to topple Leafs

March 25, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


The Manitoba Moose scored three unanswered goals in the third period to complete a come-from-behind victory over the St. John's Maple Leafs in a 6-4 win. Danny Groulx lead the way for Manitoba with two goals.

Wade Flaherty and Jean-Sebastien Aubin got the starts in goal for their respective clubs tonight.

St. John's had the first real scoring chance in the game, as Flaherty stopped a close tipped shot by Clarke Wilm from the top of the crease.

Justin Morrison was in the box for an early Leafs powerplay. St. John's swarmed around the Moose net for the first minute of the man advantage, eventually resulting in the first Leafs goal of the night.

Brendan Bell cradled the puck inside the blueline and blasted it on Flaherty. The Manitoba netminder got a piece of it but the puck found its way over the goal line.

Midway through the period, Tyler Beechey had a good scoring chance. Beechey tipped a shot in on Flaherty but was denied.

On a Moose powerplay, Nolan Baumgartner coughed the puck up to Brad Leeb at his own blueline. Leeb broke in alone on Flaherty but was stopped with a left pad save.

With five minutes to play in the first, Manitoba went on their second powerplay of the game and this time they capitalized.

Danny Groulx wound up and blasted a shot from the point that was possibly deflected in front by Jason Jaffray, however the goal was credited to Groulx.

Less than a minute and a half later, Justin Morrison broke in alone and rifled a shot top right corner over Aubin's blocker to move the Moose ahead 2-1.

After one period, St. John's had an 11-8 edge in shots but found themselves down a goal, 2-1.

The Moose started the second much the same as they finished the first, taking the play to St. John's. Jesse Schultz broke in alone and was denied by an Aubin pad save.

Manitoba scored their third of the game at the 2:49 mark on a goal by Kent Huskins. Huskins wristed a shot from the blueline that travelled along the ice, ringing off the far post and in without touching anything.

The Manitoba lead didn't last long. St. John's came right back and tied the game up with a pair of quick goals of their own.

David Ling slipped a shot past Flaherty to draw the Leafs to within a goal. After the goal, Wade Brookbank took a double minor for roughing and the Leafs capitalized with the game's tying goal 40 seconds later. Joel Kwiatkowski blasted a shot past Flaherty to make it 3-3.

In the middle of a TV timeout, a fight erupted between Jimmy Roy and Jay Harrison. Harrison got the better of Roy in the bout.

Mikael Tellqvist came into the game at the 15:54 mark of the period, replacing Aubin who was apparently injured on a goalmouth scramble prior to the last whistle.

Late in the period, David Ling took a drop pass from Kyle Wellwood and blasted it past Flaherty stick side to give the Leafs the lead. The goal came with 15 seconds to play in the second.

After two, shots were 18-17 for the Baby Leafs.

Alex Auld started the third period in goal for Manitoba. He was tested early on, gloving a shot out of the air while the Leaf player was on a partial breakaway.

Midway through the period, the Moose were on the powerplay and cycling the puck around the Leafs zone. Tellqvist made several big stops but eventually the Moose were able to dent the armour on a goal by Danny Groulx. Groulx blasted a shot from the left point, beating Tellqvist low stick side for his second of the night. Nolan Baumgartner and Jason Jaffray drew assists on the play.

A minute later, the Moose took the lead on a goal by Kevin Bieksa. The Moose defenceman blasted it from the high slot past a screened Tellqvist. Alexandre Burrows and Nathan Smith drew assists on the play.

From then on, the Moose smothered the Leafs, limiting their scoring chances. Ryan Kesler iced the outcome with an empty netter.

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