Moose prevail in shootout over Leafs

Published on February 11, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


It didn't take the Moose long to find the scoreboard. After Leafs netminder J-F Racine mishandled the puck behind the net, Peter Sarno skated in behind the net, stripped Racine of the puck and wrapped it into the open cage.

St. John's responded to the goal with an offensive opportunity of their own. Jeremy Williams skated in on a partial break and his backhander grazed the post on Wade Flaherty's blocker side.

Shortly after, rivalries heated up between the two sides. Wade Brookbank dropped the gloves with Nathan Perrott as the two battled to a draw.

The Leafs kept coming at the Moose and eventually tied the game up. Harold Druken took a pass from Kyle Wellwood in the slot and rifled it high over Flaherty's shoulder.

A couple of middleweights engaged in a fight several minutes after the Leafs goal. Jimmy Roy and David Ling dropped the gloves.

Jesse Schultz picked up a rebound and pounded it into the net past Racine, giving the Moose a 2-1 advantage late in the period.

As was the pattern in the first, following the goal was the third fight of the night. Lee Goren and Clarke Wilm wrestled each other to the ice.

St. John's tied the game at 2-2 late in the opening frame. Kyle Wellwood had the puck deep in the Moose zone and made a fantastic deke move to tuck it in behind Flaherty. Wellwood switched from the backhand to the forehand quickly, rifling the puck in past the far post.

Once again, after the goal a fight erupted between the Moose and Leafs. Kent Huskins and Ben Ondrus dropped the gloves, and once again neither side could claim a victor in the fight.

At the first-period buzzer, Wade Brookbank engaged in his second fight of the night, getting the better of Leafs captain Marc Moro. Brookbank received two extra minutes for roughing, giving the Leafs a powerplay heading into the second.

Shots in the first period were 17-11 for the Moose though the game was tied 2-2 between the clubs.

The bad blood in the opening frame carried over into the second. Kevin Bieksa got the better of Kris Newbury in a fight two minutes into the middle frame.

Manitoba took the lead for the third time on the night early in the second. Lee Goren scored at the 6:28 mark, chasing Racine from the nets and bringing in Matt Underhill.

St. John's responded with their third goal of the night three minutes later. Nathan Barrett took a feed from Jeremy Williams and flicked it past Flaherty to make it 3-3.

After two periods, Manitoba had a 27-19 edge in shots.

Wade Flaherty came up big early in the third, sliding across to block a one-timer attempt by Druken.

The best Moose scoring opportunity early in the third was on the stick of Josh Green. After Kesler took a shot on Underhill, the rebound came out to Green but hopped over his stick before he could get a scoring opportunity.

Late in the third, Nathan Barrett almost broke the tie with a clear-cut breakaway but Flaherty made a great skate save to keep the game tied.

After regulation, shots on goal were 32-29 for Manitoba after St. John's outshot the visitors 10-5 in the final frame.

Kevin Bieksa almost ended the game in overtime. His backhand shot caught Underhill out of position but it ricocheted off a defenceman's skate.

The Moose dominated the extra frame with five shots on goal to the Leafs' one but were unable to avoid the shootout.

In the shootout, Matt Underhill made a stick save on Josh Green's first attempt. David Ling's shot went over the crossbar.

Jason King tried to go five-hole on Underhill but was stopped. Harold Druken tried a backhander but Flaherty made a pad save.

Kevin Bieksa scored top right-hand corner. Kyle Wellwood rifled a shot glove hand and scored.

Lee Goren shot it over the net. Jeremy Williams attempted a backhand and shot wide.

Peter Sarno tried to shoot low but couldn't get the puck past Underhill. Ian White was stopped by Flaherty.

Jason King beat Underhill low and glovehand side. Wellwood fired a backhand top shelf and scored to keep the Leafs alive.

Josh Green fired a backhand high and scored. David Ling rang a shot off the post to give Manitoba the victory.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 11, 2005


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