Moose Edged By Amerks 2-1

Published on January 28, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


ROCHESTER, NY -With an eye on first place, the Manitoba Moose (25-14-1-5) needed to beat the team in last place. Manitoba sat three points out of first in the North Division heading into their Friday night game against the Rochester Americans (20-23-3-2). Americans goalie Jacob Markstrom stopped 33 of 34 shots by the Moose with Garth Murray scoring Manitoba's lone goal shorthanded. Rochester's Michal Repik and Triston Grant provided just enough offence to beat the visitors as the Americans won 2-1 in front of 6,137 at Blue Cross Arena.

The Moose benefitted from the first penalty call of the game at 1:55 when Rochester's Michael Duco took a hooking call for his eager forechecking on Manitoba's Travis Ramsey. Manitoba failed to convert on the man advantage, but the play continued uninterrupted with no whistles from 1:55 until 6:35.

Manitoba's best early chance to score came off the stick of Moose leading scorer Sergei Shirokov. Midway through the first period, Michael Duco had the puck poked away at his own blue line by Manitoba's Guillaume Desbiens. The loose puck was then fired by Mario Bliznak to Shirokov wide open in the left circle but Rochester goalie Jacob Markstrom stretched across to rob him of his 17th goal.

Matters became heated late in the first when Desbiens laid wood on a Rochester forechecker that belted Travis Ramsey with a late hit. Desbiens was called for spearing on the play and sat four a double minor beginning at 18:40.

Manitoba killed off the remaining 2:40 of Desbiens' double minor to open the second period. But shortly after both Rochester's Chris Taylor and Bill Sweatt of the Moose took respective stick infractions leading to some wide open four-on-four.

The Americans took advantage of the extra room as Rochester's leading scorer Michael Repik drove in and one-timed a pass by Scott Timmins from behind the net for the first goal of the game at 4:52 of the second period.

The shots weighed heavily in Manitoba's favour during the first period leading 10-1 at the midway point of the opening frame. But the Americans came back strong and only trailed 21-19 by the end of the second. They did, however, hold the more important lead with a 1-0 advantage over the Moose after 40 minutes.

Manitoba was starving for a goal after five scoreless periods. Strangely, it would take a shorthanded situation to break that streak. With Evan Oberg in the box for tripping, Travis Ramsey fired a clearing attempt into Rochester defenceman Colby Robak. But Robak could only knock the shot down and Garth Murray picked it up giving himself a shorthanded breakaway that he converted at 5:29. Murray's second goal of the season tied the game at 1-1 early in the third period.

Rochester's Triston Grant doesn't score goals often but still knows to keep his stick on the ice when driving the net. That strategy resulted in his fourth of the season when he tipped a Clay Wilson pass into Manitoba's net at 10:17 of the third period. The Americans regained their one goal lead on Grant's third period marker giving them a late 2-1 advantage.

The Moose were given an opportunity to tie the game when Rochester's Kendal McCardle was whistled for slashing at 16:01. The Americans weathered that power play but the storm came in the last 90 seconds as Manitoba poured on the pressure with the extra attacker.

Jacob Markstrom stood his ground in Rochester's net and the Americans maintained their 2-1 lead. Eddie Lack made 26 saves for Manitoba but it wasn't enough as his Swedish counterpart stopped 33 of 34 shots.

The Moose play a matinee game tomorrow when they visit the Toronto Marlies at 2 p.m. CST. Get the action live on CJOB with Brian Munz. Hear it online at www.cjob.com. Manitoba's next home action is Feb. 11 vs. San Antonio.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 28, 2011


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