Moose enter playoffs on winning notes

Published on April 18, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


The Manitoba Moose played their final four games of the regular season this past week, going 3-1 to finish with 44 wins, 26 losses, 3 overtime losses and 7 shootout defeats for 98 points. Because St. John's also had 98 points but registered two more wins, the Moose end up third in the division. On Tuesday, Ryan Kesler scored a pair of goals including the game winner in the third period to help the Moose to a 3-2 win at Rexall Place in Edmonton. On Wednesday, Kesler scored his 30th of the season but the Moose fell to the Road Runners 3-2. Friday at the MTS Centre, Peter Sarno netted two goals and three assists to lead the way in Manitoba's 7-2 victory over Cleveland. The Moose scored three goals in the third period to overcome a two-goal deficit and defeat the Barons 3-2 Saturday. Next up is the 2005 Calder Cup Playoffs which begin with Games 1 and 2 Wednesday and Friday at Mile One Stadium in St. John's, Newfoundland.

MOOSE NOTES

Second Best Season Ever: The Moose have completed the second-best regular season in franchise history. For only the second time in history, the team surpassed 40 wins and amassed more than 90 points. The team finished with a record of 44-26-3-7 for 98 points. The Moose also finished with the second-best road record in franchise history at 22-12-2-4 and tied for the second-most home wins in a season with 22. The best Moose regular season ever was 1998-99 when the team had a record of 47-21-14.

Flaherty Sets Record: With a 2.34 goalsagainst average, Wade Flaherty broke the franchise mark for lowest GAA in a season by a Moose goalie who's played over 10 games in a season. The previous record belonged to Christian Bronsard who had a 2.44 GAA in 33 appearances back in the 1998-99 season. Flaherty also had a .918 save percentage, which ties him with Bronsard for second behind Johan Hedberg's .922 set in 1997-98.

Auld Reaches Win Total: With a 3-2 victory over Cleveland in the final game of the regular season, Alex Auld tied the franchise record for wins in a single season by a Moose goaltender at 25. Richard Shulmistra (1998-99) and Tom Draper (1994-95) both previously reached the 25-win mark. With 69 career wins as a Moose, Auld is by far the all-time winningest goaltender in franchise history. Fred Brathwaite ranks second with 45 victories.

Sarno Racks Up The Points: Peter Sarno recorded the first five-point game in Moose AHL history on Friday night. The last time a Moose player netted five points in a game was Brett Hauer on January 22, 2000 when he recorded five assists. Sarno also increased his season total to 82 points which vaulted him ahead of Dave Christian (80, 94-95) for third in franchise history and the second-highest point total in Manitoba Moose history. Stephane Morin had 114 points in 94-95 and Bill Bowler netted 93 points in 98-99. Sarno also finished the season with 66 assists, one shy of Bowler's Manitoba mark of 67 set in 98-99.

Goren Ties One Record, Breaks Another: Moose Right Winger Lee Goren finished the season with a +24 rating, setting a new franchise record for +/-. The previous Moose mark for the highest +/- rating in a season is Jimmy Roy who was +22 back in 2001-02. Goren also finished the season with 16 powerplay goals, tying Scott Thomas' mark set in 1998-99.

Brookbank Sets New Seasonal PIM Record: When Manitoba Moose forward/defenceman Wade Brookbank was assessed a roughing minor in the third period of Tuesday's 3-2 victory over the Edmonton Road Runners, he set a new Manitoba Moose franchise mark for the most penalty minutes in a season at 285, surpassing Jason MacDonald's total of 283 set back in 1998- 99 in 82 games. Brookbank finished the season with 285 minutes in 68 games played.

Keeping The Net Clean: With 210 goals against, the Moose also set a new franchise mark for the least amount of goals allowed in a single season. The previous record was 228 set back in the 2002-03 season. That year, the Moose finished second in the Canadian Division and lost in the conference semi-final of the Calder Cup playoffs in seven games to the Hamilton Bulldogs. The team also set a record for goals against on the road, with 102 (previously 116, 2000-01) and goals against at home, with 108 (previously 110, 2003-04).

UPCOMING OPPONENTS

St. John's Maple Leafs

Wednesday, April 20, 5:05 p.m. Radio: CJOB 68

Friday, April 22, 5:05 p.m.

Venue: Mile One Stadium

The Moose play the first two games of their North Division Semifinal Wednesday and Friday in St. John's. Out of eight regular season meetings, the Moose won four and lost four with one of their wins coming in a shootout... Entering the playoffs, St. John's gained at least a point in each of its final five regular season games... David Ling finished as the team's leading point-getter with 88 points (28g, 60a) to finish third in the entire league. Ling had six goals and eight assists against Manitoba this season... Kyle Wellwood was tied for fourth in the league with 38 goals. He was also fourth in the AHL with 87 points. Wellwood scored more points against the Moose than any other player, with 19 (6g, 13a) in eight games.... Among nother notable forwards, Matt Stajan finished with 66 points (23g, 43a) and former Moose Brad Leeb had 16 goals and 29 points in 48 games played... Defenceman Joel Kwiatkowski was the only AHL defenceman to score 20 or more goals this season. He also had 25 assists for 45 points to rank eighth in the league in points by a defenceman... Goaltender Mikael Tellqvist had a 24-16-4 record, 2.65 GAA and .921 save pct to lead the Leafs... Peter Sarno had nine points (1g, 8a) in eight games against St. John's, while Kevin Bieksa had eight points (2g, 6a).

PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE

Peter Sarno

4 GP, 3 G, 3 A, 6 PTS, +1, 8 SHOTS

This past week's Player of the Week nominee for the Manitoba Moose is centre Peter Sarno. In four games, Sarno had three goals and three assists for six points. Sarno scored a powerplay goal in Tuesday's 3-2 win over Edmonton. On Friday, Sarno registered a Moose AHL-high five points with two goals and three assists in a 7-2 romp over Cleveland. Sarno finished the season sixth in the AHL in points with 82 and second in assists with 66.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 18, 2005


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