Moose End Skid With 3-1 Victory

January 24, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


WINNIPEG, MB. -- The Manitoba Moose ended a six-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Syracuse Crunch Thursday night at the MTS Centre. Moose captain Mike Keane earned his 600th professional point by tallying two assists in the game, and goalie Drew MacIntyre stopped 18 shots for his 15th win of the season.

It took four minutes and a high sticking penalty against Crunch defenceman Dan Smith for Manitoba to register a shot on net against netminder Adam Munro. After the two-minute man-advantage the Moose failed to score but were up 5-0 in the shot department.

Manitoba held onto their shot lead through the mid-way point of the first, tallying seven shots to Syracuse's four. In his first game back with the Moose, Nathan McIver offered the Crunch their first powerplay at 10:06. Less than 40 seconds into the five-on-four, left-winger Joakim Lindstrom gave Syracuse the first lead of the game with a rocket that hit the mesh of MacIntyre's net.

With five separate players earning roughing minors after the goal, the Moose netted their second man-advantage of the night. Jimmy Sharrow fired a one-timer from the blue line, allowing Jason Jaffray to chip it past Munro to tie the battle at one. At the end of the first frame the Moose had doubled Syracuse's shots 14-7 but were neck-and-neck on the scoreboard at 1-1.

Three minutes into the second stanza, Alexandre Bolduc and rookie Michael Grabner entered the Syracuse zone side-by-side. Sneaking past the defenceman, Grabner deked the puck past Munro for his 15th goal of the season, giving Manitoba their first lead of the game.

In the final minutes of the second, the Crunch nearly tied the game at two, but were denied because of a dislodged net. Thanks to the disallowed goal, the Moose carried a 2-1 lead going into the third.

Less than a minute into the final frame, Crunch right-winger Gilbert Brule collected a two-minute boarding penalty, putting the Moose on their third powerplay of the night. Even though the man-advantage didn't result in a goal, the Moose still lead the shot count at 24-14.

With numerous acrobatic saves by MacIntyre, Manitoba killed Syracuse's five-on-four with center Rick Rypien in the box. Just after the 10 minute mark, Crunch's Munro reacted too fast and was caught on his stomach, letting Bolduc's shot sail over the tender, putting the Moose up by two.

With eight minutes left in the game, Pierre Cedric-Labrie and Derek Dorsett went toe-to-toe near the penalty box, which made for a short commute as they both received five-minute majors for fighting.

The Moose finished the game on a powerplay securing their 3-1 lead and ending their six-game losing streak at the MTS Centre.

LOOKING AHEAD: The Moose and Crunch meet for a rematch tomorrow night at the MTS Centre. The League then breaks for the All-Star Classic, and Manitoba concludes their six-game homestand Feb. 1 & 2 vs. the Hamilton Bulldogs.

NEXT GAME: FRIDAY, JAN. 25 (MTS CENTRE - WINNIPEG, MB.)



American Hockey League Stories from January 24, 2008


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