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Moose Outscored by Wolves in Shootout

November 30, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


Lately the Manitoba Moose (11-6-0-3) have not lacked for shots on goal. Meanwhile Eddie Lack has done a great job keeping out the shots against. The Swedish goaltender continued that trend against the Wolves (11-12-1-0) on Tuesday night stopping 17 of 18 shots in regulation and four of five in the shootout. But his effort wasn't enough as Chicago's Darren Haydar scored the shootout winner and Peter Mannino stopped all five Manitoba shooters, helping the Wolves to a 2-1 shootout win in front of 2,013 at Allstate Arena.

Special teams are usually an adventure with the Chicago Wolves as they hold the distinction of having the AHL's best power play (24.5%) and the league's worst penalty kill (71.8%).

The Wolves were given the game's first man advantage opportunity at 6:03 of the first period with Manitoba's Evan Oberg booked for holding. That power play was uneventful. As was Chicago's second power play opportunity with Moose forward Jonas Andersson in the box two minutes for hooking, beginning at 10:41.

The first period ended without either team capitalizing on a pair of special teams chances. But just as in five of Manitoba's previous six games, the Moose held advantage in the shots on goal department. Through 20 minutes, and despite giving up two power plays to Chicago, the Moose outshot the Wolves 11-2.

With referee Tim Mayer's arm raised on a delayed call, the Chicago Wolves nearly scored on only their fourth shot of the game as a shot by Spencer Machacek deflected off Manitoba's Eddie Lack and began rolling toward the goal line before Moose defenceman Kevin Connauton pulled the puck out of harm's way. When Connauton finally touched the puck, Mayer blew the whistle and singled out Moose rookie Cody Hodgson for tripping at 7:53. Manitoba surrendered two shots to the Wolves on the ensuing power play but did kill off Chicago's third man advantage of the game.

Jason Krog spent one productive season with the Moose in 2008-09 (30g, 56a), but on this night he was a spectator in a Wolves jersey as he watched Manitoba open the score from the inside of the penalty box. Manitoba's power play passed the puck around the Wolves end until Sergei Shirokov set up defenceman Kevin Connauton for a one-time point shot that deflected off the skate of Chicago defenceman Arturs Kulda and by goaltender Peter Mannino for Manitoba's first goal on their 20th shot of the night. Connauton's team leading third power play goal of the season was also assisted by captain Nolan Baumgartner.

The Moose led in shots by a wide margin, 22-7, but the scoreboard still showed a narrow 1-0 lead for Manitoba after two periods.

Eddie Lack proved he wasn't getting cold waiting for shots in the Moose net as he made the game's biggest save early in the third with his team on the power play. The Wolves point leader Jared Ross was sprung for a clear cut shorthanded breakaway early in the third period but Lack couldn't be fooled on Ross's deke attempt.

Manitoba picked a bad time to tempt the most efficient power play in the AHL. Despite killing four-of-four penalties through the game, Evan Oberg's tripping call with 4:10 left didn't leave the Moose in an ideal position as they clung to a one-goal lead. The Moose held off Jason Krog through 57 minutes, but the former Moose centre finally scored with 2:25 remaining ruining Eddie Lack's shutout bid. Krog's third power play goal of the season was assisted by Darren Haydar and Andre Deveaux.

The Wolves may have answered with a goal, but they also replied with an untimely penalty of their own. At 19:41 of the third period, Chicago's Jamie Hunt took a boarding call after taking a healthy run at Moose defenceman Lee Sweatt. The final 19 seconds ran out in the third period and Manitoba carried over a man advantage of 1:41 into the overtime period.

Chicago had nearly killed off their overtime penalty when the Moose were assessed a bench minor for too many men at 1:28 of OT. With Aaron Volpatti serving, the Wolves threaded Manitoba's end with cross ice passes on the four-on-three but Eddie Lack kept pace with the play. Lack's biggest save of the overtime frame came off of a rebound attempt by Darren Haydar.

For the second time in three games, the Moose required more than 65 minutes of regulation to decide a winner. It took 10 shooters before either goalie cracked but Darren Haydar scored in the fifth round for the only goal of the shootout. In the end, Eddie Lack stopped 17 of 18 Chicago shots in regulation and four of five shooters in the shootout, but Haydar's goal capped off the 2-1 shootout win for the Wolves over the Moose on Tuesday night. The Moose march on to Milwaukee to wrap up their four-game road trip against the Admirals tomorrow night. Game time on Wednesday is 7:00 PM CST. Catch the action live with Brian Munz on CJOB 68. Listen online at www.cjob.com.

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