Moose Complete Comeback, Take Griffs 2-1

Published on November 16, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


WINNIPEG, MB.. -- Despite surrendering an early goal for the eighth consecutive game, the Manitoba Moose defeated the Grand Rapids Griffins 2-1 Thursday night. Moose bruisers Zack FitzGerald and Mike Brown scored for Manitoba, while Drew MacIntyre stopped 31 of 32 shots for the win.

The Moose were looking for payback after opening up the season with two losses to the Griffins, but Grand Rapids struck first only 2:22 into the game. Descending into the Moose zone on MacIntyre's right side, Randall Gelech fired from the center of the face-off circle and beat the Moose goalie, giving the visitors the first lead of the game.

Marking another first, Gelech took a tripping penalty midway through the opening period and Manitoba benefited from the game's first man-advantage. But on that powerplay -- and two more shortly after -- the Moose failed to beat Jimmy Howard and Griffins penalty killers. Firing four shots within the final two minutes, the Griffins sent the Moose to their dressing room down 13-9 in shots, 0-for-3 on the powerplay, and trailing 1-0.

Feeding off their one-goal deficit, the Moose came out strong in the second, spending much of the period's early minutes in the Griffins zone. But Grand Rapids was quick to counter with their own offensive rush, aided by a holding penalty to Moose blue-liner Jimmy Sharrow with just over 13 minutes left on the clock. As the Griffins surged past the 20-shot mark, MacIntyre kept the Moose within one, keeping tabs on a bouncy puck that had both teams fumbling for control.

With seven minutes left in the frame and the puck planted on his stick, FitzGerald cycled behind Howard's net and fired from a sharp angle, netting his first of the season to tie the game at one. By the end of the second, Manitoba had posted 13 fewer shots than Grand Rapids matched the Griffins in scoring.

It took 10 minutes of third period play for a team to score their second of the game, but Manitoba's Mike Brown proved to be the go-ahead goal getter. After Greg Classen ushered the puck into the Griffins zone, #19 slid a short pass to Brown at the crease, who converted it into Manitoba's first lead of the game.

Although the Griffins pulled Howard in the last minute of the game, the extra attacker couldn't help Grand Rapids recover their lost lead and Manitoba stole two points from their North Division rivals with a 2-1 victory.

LOOKING AHEAD: The Moose and Griffins rematch Friday night at the MTS Centre. Manitoba then kicks off a seven-game road trip Sunday afternoon in Lake Erie, facing the newest North Division team -- the Monsters -- for the first time ever.

NEXT GAME: FRIDAY, NOV. 16, 2007 (MTS CENTRE - WINNIPEG, MB.)

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American Hockey League Stories from November 16, 2007


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