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Moose fall to Bruins, 3-2

February 6, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


Down 2-1 in the late minutes of the third period seemed to spell disaster for the Manitoba Moose Friday night, but Guillaume Desbiens' shorthanded marker with four minutes left forced extra time vs. the Providence Bruins. The valiant Moose comeback wouldn't carry the club to a franchise record ninth straight road win, however, as goaltender Tuukka Rask stopped all but one sniper in a 3-2 shootout victory over the Moose at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

With 22-year-old Cory Schneider and 21-year-old Tuukka Rask backstopping the Moose and Bruins respectively, the first game of a four-game series between Manitoba and Providence got underway at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

While both the Moose and Bruins couldn't click in their first man-advantages, Manitoba's second powerplay helped the visitors net the opening goal at the beginning of the second period. Surging towards Rask with 13 seconds left on the powerplay clock, Alexandre Bolduc snapped his ninth of the season over Rask's left shoulder to put the Moose in front by one.

For the third time the Moose had the luxury of an extra attacker when Johnny Boychuk was penalized for hooking. Locking themselves in the Bruins zone, the Moose brought their shot total to 14, but weren't able to hit the back of the net and play resumed to five-on-five.

At 8:20, the Bruins were leading in shots 16-15 and one of their attempts found the back of the net. Defenseman Jeff Penner took a slapshot from inside the blueline to beat Schneider and knot the game at one.

In the final minutes of the second period, Matt Lashoff picked a fight with center man Greg Rallo. Even though the fight was initiated by Lashoff, the Bruins defenseman got the brunt of it, ending up on the bottom of the two-man pile up. Both players were handed five-minute fighting majors as well as an additional two minutes each for roughing and elbowing.

In the early minutes of the final frame, the Moose benefited from their fourth powerplay when Jeremy Reich was put away for interference. Even though Manitoba was playing with an extra attacker, Providence dominated the puck which spent most of its time in the Moose's territory.

With 11:19 left in regulation, Bruins d-man Johnny Boychuk maneuvered the puck away from his opposition and snapped it home from the slot to earn the go-ahead goal, 2-1.

In his first game with Manitoba this season, Nathan McIver took part in his first fight going toe-to-toe with Jason Reich. After the linesmen broke up the dispute, both guilty parties were sentenced to five-minute fighting majors.

With Raymond Sawada serving time for high-sticking, Guillaume Desbiens marched into the Bruins zone and beat Rask with a wrist shot for a shorthanded goal. Scoring his 11th of the season, the Moose and Bruins were tied at two with four minutes left in regulation. Before either side could score their third goal, the time expired and the game was forced into extra-time.

Both the Moose and Bruins received penalties in overtime, but neither side could capitalize with the extra-man. Five-minutes proved too short to net a deciding goal and the game proceeded into a shootout.

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