Moose Drop Two In Home Opening Weekend

Published on October 16, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


The Manitoba Moose hosted the Grand Rapids Griffins for a second time in as many nights to kick off their 2010-11 home schedule and for a second night in a row the visiting team bested the Moose by just one goal. The Griffins won 3-2 on Saturday night in front of 7,008 fans at MTS Centre.

Both the Griffins and Moose were given early chances to redeem themselves on special teams after going a combined 0-for-10 in Friday's home opener. First, the Moose went to work at 5:29 on a powerplay but the best chance through the two-minute advantage was a shorthanded breakaway that Moose goalie Tyler Weiman steered away.

The Griffins would fail to capitalize on their first powerplay when Nolan Baumgartner was penalized for tripping, but they would go back to work on the man advantage as rookie Moose defenceman Kevin Connauton was given two minutes for "throwing the stick" at 12:39. The Griffins scored on a set play off the faceoff to the Moose goaltender's right side. Griffins Jamie Tardif won the faceoff back to Winnipeg-native Derek Meech who walked to the middle then blasted a shot from the point, finding the stick of Joakim Andersson for the tip into the top corner of the net.

Manitoba's best chance to get on the board came four minutes left in the first period when Moose rookie Cody Hodgson snuck in alone behind the Griffins defence. Hodgson attempted to snap one top shelf but found the glove of Grand Rapids goalie Joey MacDonald.

The first period ended with the Griffins leading on the shot clock 12-8 and on the scoreboard 1-0.

If the goals aren't going in then the best way to spark a team is with a hit or a fight. Manitoba's Tommy Maxwell is often good for one or the other and delivered, laying out Griffins defenceman Brendan Smith on the forecheck five minutes in. Aaroron Volpatti tried the other tactic by getting into a scrap three minutes later with Griffins defenceman Sergei Kolosov.

Volpatti and Maxwell's efforts paid off immediately after the fight as Moose centre Marco Rosa won a faceoff back to defenceman Lee Sweatt who threw a wrist shot through a screen and past Griffins goalie Joey MacDonald. Sweatt's marker at 7:48 of the second period was the first home Moose goal of the season.

The Griffins Brendan Smith would attempt to score revenge on Maxwell as both players dropped the mitts after a net scrum with less than seven minutes left in the period.

The Moose were victimized by a bad bounce soon after when a shot from the middle by the Griffins Jan Mursak deflected off a Moose defenceman's skate and onto the stick of Ilari Filppula waiting in the circle to Weiman's left. The deflected shot caught Weiman out of position and Minard was able to snap a low shot by the Moose tender to put the Griffins up 2-1.

The Moose entered the third period one goal down but that deficit wouldn't last long thanks to Manitoba's rookie forward Stefan Schneider. Playing in his first career AHL game, Schneider scooped up a loose puck while skating into the Griffins zone and leaned into a wrist shot from the slot that deflected off the crossbar and in. The unassisted goal tied it up for the home team 3:51 into the third period.

Griffins defenceman Brendan Smith put Grand Rapids back up by one with 7:17 left to play. After entering the zone and getting a pass from Griffins left winger Tomas Tater, Smith let go a low shot from the point that squeaked through Weiman's pads.

Weiman skated to the bench for the extra attacker with 0:55 allowing the Moose to put serious pressure on Griffins tender Jason MacDonald but to no avail. The Griffins won 3-2 on Saturday night, making it two-straight one goal victories over the host Manitoba Moose.

The Moose continue their current homestand next Thursday, October 21 when they welcome the Hamilton Bulldogs to MTS Centre. Gametime is 7:30 p.m. CST.

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American Hockey League Stories from October 16, 2010


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