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Moose Mauled By Bulldogs 5-1 In Game 5

May 6, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


Morale in the locker room of the Manitoba Moose (2-3) was at an all-time high following their all-time latest overtime win on Wednesday night. They evened up the North Division Final in Game 4, but couldn't take the lead against the Hamilton Bulldogs (3-2) in Game 5. Playing in front of 9,413 at MTS Centre on Friday night, Hamilton sniper Nigel Dawes scored his first goal of the series and first of two in the game while goalie Drew MacIntyre only allowed one goal by the home team. The final result was 5-1 in favour of the visiting Bulldogs.

Hamilton's Nigel Dawes pumped in 41 goals during the regular season, but had yet to find the back of the net through four games in the North Division Final. That changed 1:09 into the 1st period when his linemate Aaron Palushaj backhanded a pass to him in the slot which he wripped top corner on Moose goalie Eddie Lack for the first goal of the game.

Before the opening period was out, Hamilton's Dustin Boyd took a tripping penalty at 18:50. Then at the whistle both the Moose and Bulldogs began showing their playoff spirit with some jabbing and jawing. After the refs split them up, Manitoba's Aaron Volpatti and Hamilton's Andrew Conboy each had a roughing penalty to go along with Boyd's trip.

The Bulldogs out-chanced the Moose by a fair margin in the first 20 minutes and a few of those chances came off turnovers in Manitoba's end. With Lack's help, the Moose escaped the first period trailing the Bulldogs 1-0.

There have been a few opposing players on the wrong end of a devastating Aaron Volpatti hit this season. Abbotsford's Mitch Wahl, Toronto's Marcel Mueller, and as of early in the second period Hamilton's Kyle Klubertanz can be added to that list. The Bulldogs defenceman was stapled to the glass behind his own net with Volpatti on the forecheck and couldn't find his feet afterwards. His teammates objected but the refs allowed them to play on.

The Bulldogs extended their lead to 2-0 at 4:58 of the second period when Hamilton's Jimmy Bonneau was allowed to track his own rebound while charging toward the Moose net and swept in his first goal of the playoffs past Eddie Lack.

Bonneau took a trip to the penalty box soon after on a roughing call at 5:23. The penalty went unpunished but the Moose had their chances. Manitoba's Jordan Schroeder stared skyward after he was robbed twice on the power play, once by the post then once by Drew MacIntyre. The second attempt hit MacIntyre's right pad as the Hamilton goalie slid cross crease recovering from a rebound.

Some slashes are overlooked in the postseason but the refs cracked down on the Bulldogs with a pair of calls late in the second period. First, Dustin Boyd was singled out at 12:20. Then while on the penalty kill, Bulldogs d-man Neil Petruic was called for hacking Manitoba's Jason Jaffray 1:40 later giving Manitoba a brief 5-on-3.

After a timeout called by Coach Claude Noel, the Moose did get on the board during the crucial power play. After Dustin Boyd returned to the ice for 5-on-4, Nolan Baumgartner took a point shot that didn't beat MacIntyre but was cleaned up by Marco Rosa immediately after for Manitoba's first goal of the game at 15:04.

The Moose entered the third period down by one and needing an even up goal at the risk of going back to Hamilton down 3-2 in the series. Manitoba didn't get the early jump in the third period they needed getting only three shots in the next 12 minutes.

The Bulldogs pulled away to a 3-1 lead at 12:26 much to the chagrin of the Moose, their head coach, and the 9,413 in the stands. Hamilton's J.T. Wyman flew toward the net from the right wing wall and slid through the Moose crease, taking Eddie Lack with him. Bulldog Ryan Russell poked the loose puck into the vacant net giving his team a two-goal lead late in Game 5.

The game quickly got out of hand in the dying minutes. First Ryan White shelved one on the Moose net from outside the top of the crease to make it 4-1 with 2:47 remaining. Then with Lack on the bench, Nigel Dawes slid in the empty netter to make it 5-1.

After that point the gloves (and the sportsmanship) were all off. First Manitoba's Aaron Volpatti accepted a challenge by Hamilton's 6-foot-5 captain Alex Henry. Henry's reach advantage was clearly the difference and Volpatti hit the ice.

Then following the next whistle, players from both teams were trading taunts, slashes, and everything else. When everything settled Manitoba's Gillaume Desbiens was assessed a match penalty for a slash on Kyle Klubertanz, along with a slew of other penalties that left the Moose down 5-on-3 for the remaining minute of play.

The ending was as ugly as the score and the Moose lost Game 5 by a 5-1 final. Drew MacIntyre made 22 saves backstopping the Bulldogs to the win and a 3-2 series lead.

The North Division Final returns to Hamilton where the Bulldogs host the Moose with a 3-2 series lead. Brian Munz will call the action live from Copps Coliseum on CJOB 68, beginning at 6:30 p.m. CT. Hear it online at www.cjob.com.

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