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Moose Down Marlies 3-1

January 29, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


TORONTO, ON - The short break during the AHL All-Star Classic is a rare respite for players from their demanding 80-game schedule. Before the Manitoba Moose (26-14-1-5) and Toronto Marlies (23-20-0-7) could enjoy that break, a certain matinee matchup at Ricoh Coliseum required focus on Saturday afternoon. A crowd of 5,746 watched as the visiting Moose built a three-goal lead by the first intermission that stood as the difference in a 3-1 victory over the Marlies. Winning goalie Eddie Lack made 28 saves for his 15th win of the season.

With one goal in the past two games, it's safe to say Manitoba's top two lines haven't been producing at a rate they feel comfortable with. Depth forward Ryan Cruthers came to the rescue early on Saturday afternoon with a goal 3:01 into the game. Cruthers received a pass from Josh Aspenlind seconds after jumping off the bench and then charged down the right wing before roofing a wrist shot over the glove hand of Jussi Rynnas.

The top two lines joined the party minutes later as rookie Jordan Schroeder used his foot to redirected a wrist shot by Aspenlind past Rynnas at 7:38. Schroeder's seventh goal of the season gave Manitoba an early 2-0 lead at Ricoh Coliseum.

Trying to swing the momentum in a far different direction, Marlies defenceman Danny Richmond challenged Moose goal scorer Cruthers and he answered the call at 8:38. The scrap was tilted in Richmond's favour while Cruthers scored the takedown.

The Moose defencemen were soon in on the action as well. Rookie defenceman Kevin Connauton had a long range shot deflected by Moose centre Mario Bliznak that Rynnas couldn't get a read on. Putting his team up 3-0, Bliznak was credited with his seventh goal of the season at 15:05 of the first period. Rynnas was then pulled in favour of Ben Scrivens after allowing three Moose goals on six shots.

Capping off an eventful first period for Ryan Cruthers, the rookie centre was clipped by the errant stick of a teammate that he would need medical attention to repair.

A hooking minor to Guillaume Desbiens carried over into the second period and Mario Bliznak immediately intercepted a pass by Matt Lashoff for a shorthanded breakaway. Scrivens made a clutch save in his first test of the game and prevented the Moose from scoring their third shorthanded goal in the past week.

Manitoba's top ranked penalty kill was perfect on Friday night, despite the loss, killing all five minor penalties called against the Moose. The PK unit was similarly effective on Saturday afternoon killing off three penalties in the second period. Moose goalie Eddie Lack was essential to that as he turned away all 17 shots he faced in the first two periods in Toronto.

The same way Manitoba's depth scoring gave them a kickstart early in the game, Toronto's grind line attempted to bail them out in the third. Marlies forward Matt Caruana fed defenceman Korbinian Holzer at the point while grinder Greg Scott went to the net providing a vital screen. Holzer blasted a slap shot past the blinded Eddie Lack for the first Marlies goal at 4:58 of the third period.

Sensing a change in pace after Toronto's first goal, Moose head coach Claude Noel immediately called a timeout and settled his squad down.

Marlies coach Dallas Eakins saved his for the dying minutes of the third period. Then using a tactic he tried in a loss to Manitoba on Jan. 19, Eakins pulled his goalie with three full mintues left while down by two goals. While unconventional, Eakins' early extra attacker provided constant pressure for the Marlies that was somehow negated by Eddie Lack in the Moose net.

After 60 minutes, Eddie Lack had stopped all but one of Toronto's 29 shots on goal which was enough to secure a 3-1 Moose win on Saturday afternoon. Jordan Schroeder's first period goal stood as the game winner. The Moose will enjoy a brief break during the AHL All-Star Classic but head back out on the road for a game in Wilkes-Barre Scranton on Friday, Feb. 4 versus the Penguins. Hear that game live with Brian Munz online at www.cjob.com or on CJOB 68. The next Moose home game is Feb. 11 against the San Antonio Rampage.

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