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Moose Outlast Bulldogs 1-0 in Game 6

May 8, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


For the first time in this series, and for the fourth time in this postseason, the Manitoba Moose were facing elimination from the 2011 Calder Cup playoffs. Game 6 of the North Division Final versus the Hamilton Bulldogs had the Moose trying to win their third road game of the playoffs while on the ropes. Backed by goaltender Eddie Lack's second shutout of the playoffs, and a second period shorthanded marker by Alexander Bolduc, the Moose were able to outlast the Bulldogs 1-0 and send the series to a seventh and deciding game.

The Moose had some lineup shuffling to do for game 6, a result of two one-game suspensions assessed to Garth Murray and Guillaume Desbiens following a penalty-filled end to game 5. Inserted into the lineup for game 6 in place of the two suspended forwards were defenceman Keith Seabrook and forward Stefan Schneider.

The first great chance for either team occurred just past the midway point of the first period when Moose leading scorer Marco Rosa was sent in on a partial breakaway down the right wing. The left-handed Rosa faked a shot, then went to the backhand in tight but could not lift the puck over the outstretched catcher of Bulldogs goaltender Drew MacIntyre.

With just over one minute remaining in the first period, Hamilton's Nigel Dawes hit the post behind Eddie Lack. Seconds later Dawes was hauled down by Manitoba's Mario Bliznak, giving the Bulldogs their first powerplay. During the man advantage, Bulldogs forward Ryan White missed a tremendous opportunity to give his team the opening goal when he was robbed by Lack with just a few ticks on the first period clock.

The Lack save at the buzzer, coupled with a lack of good scoring opportunities for either squad kept the game knotted at zeros after one period. The shots were 11-10 in favour of Hamilton after an evenly played first period.

The Moose opened the second period by killing off the remaining 1:03 of the Bliznak penalty. The kill proved to be a momentum boon for the visitors, as the following shift produced three great scoring chances off the sticks of Rosa and Jason Jaffray. MacIntyre made saves on all three chances, keeping the game scoreless for the time being.

Manitoba's Bill Sweatt was sent off at 3:14 of the middle frame for hooking. The second Bulldogs powerplay produced the game's first goal - for the Moose. A Hamilton pointshot was blocked by Moose forward Alexandre Bolduc, and after he corralled the bouncing puck, he lugged it in on a clear breakaway from center. MacIntyre gave up a bit of room low to the stick side, and Bolduc made no mistake burying the puck for the shorthanded marker.

After the Moose took a third consecutive hooking penalty - this one at 11:57 to Shawn Weller - the Bulldogs got their best chance of the period on a hot shot high to the glove side by Hamilton's Ryan Russell. Lack was once again equal to the task, snapping the glove out to rob Russell, keeping the Bulldogs off the scoreboard.

The second period was closed out by another Moose penalty, making it four powerplays in a row for the home side as Travis Ramsey was sent off for high sticking. Another great job of penalty killing by Manitoba ensured that their 1-0 lead would be carried into the third period.

The story of the second period was the Moose penalty killing unit, as they killed 7:03 of Bulldogs powerplay time, and tallied the game's first goal on the breakaway effort by Bolduc. Despite spending much of period two on the PK, the Moose enjoyed a 12-9 edge in shots.

The man advantage slant was reversed in the third period, as the Moose found themselves on the powerplay three consecutive times before the midpoint of the third. However just like the Hamilton powerplay in the second period, the Moose PP unit sputtered on its numerous chances.

Marco Rosa was called at 12:57 of the third period for goaltender interference when he was pushed into MacIntyre by Hamilton's Aaron Palushaj following a save on a shot by Sergei Shirokov. The play was reminiscent of a non-call in game five which saw Bulldogs forward T.J. Wyman directed into Lack by Desbiens. The Moose once again turned away the Bulldogs powerplay, putting them at 0 for 5 on the night.

With 1:25 left in the third period, Manitoba's Aaron Volpatti got his stick up high on Hamilton's Aaron Palushaj. The minor allowed Manitoba to clear the puck the length of the ice without being whistled for icing, in the end icing Hamilton's chances of tying Game 6. The clock expired with Manitoba holding on for a crucial 1-0 win which forces a series deciding Game 7 on Monday night at Copps Coliseum. The Moose force a Game 7 for the second time in the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs. The North Division Final will end on Monday night at Copps Coliseum. Brian Munz will have all the action live on CJOB 68 with game time at 6:30 p.m. CT. Hear it live online at www.cjob.com.

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