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Moose Shut Down Marlies 1-0

February 27, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


The Manitoba Moose (32-22-1-5) had one more game to grind through before the end of their three-game weekend. After dropping the first two games on Friday and Saturday, the Moose took on the Toronto Marlies (30-24-0-8) at Ricoh Coliseum on Sunday afternoon. Both teams sat two points back of first in the North Division entering the game but Manitoba moved into a tie for top spot thanks to the spotless goaltending of Eddie Lack. Rookie forward Bill Sweatt scored the only goal for Manitoba and the Moose squeaked out a 1-0 victory with Lack making 33 saves to earn his third shutout in February.

Slow starts have been the mantra of the Manitoba Moose over their recent stretch so head coach Claude Noel had to be delighted by his team's pace in the opening minutes on Sunday afternoon. Just two minutes in, Moose centre Garth Murray was denied by Jonas Gustavsson from point blank range on the game's first scoring chance.

That early momentum was stifled by two penalties to Manitoba defencemen. First, Yann Sauve was guilty of dumping the puck over the glass in his own end at 3:02. Then Ryan Parent clipped the Marlies Aaron Voros with a high stick trying to cover the large winger in front of the Moose net.

The Moose killed off the early five-on-three thanks in large part to the great goaltending of Eddie Lack. Lack was forced to make six saves during the kill, a few of the very difficult variety.

Jonas Gustavsson wasn't tested often in the opening period but was big when it counted as he stoned Guillaume Desbiens on a shorthanded breakaway late in the first. One goalie was far busier than the other, but Gustavsson and Lack were flawless through 20 minutes stopping four and 14 shots respectively in a scoreless first period.

The goaltenders continued their solid play in the second period. By the halfway point of the game, the Marlies outshot the Moose 22-11 but neither team had found the back of the net.

Manitoba's Sergei Shirokov checked Christian Hanson in his own zone but Hanson's stick crumbled from a slash by Shirokov, helping the Marlies forward draw a penalty at 12:33 of the second period. Manitoba's penalty kill, ranked second in the AHL, held true to form killing off their fourth shorthanded situation of the game.

The AHL doesn't have the option of video replay, but if they did there would have been a call upstairs by the referee late in the second period. During a scramble in the Marlies crease with Manitoba's Mario Bliznak and Bill Sweatt trying to stuff home a rebound, the puck squirted underneath Gustavsson sprawled on the ice and was kept out (if it was kept out) by the knob of the goalie's stick laying on the ice behind him.

Manitoba won the race as the first team to find the score sheet and it only took 45:04 of regulation. Moose defenceman Kevin Connauton carried into the Marlies zone and let go a deflected shot that Gustavsson stopped, but Toronto defenceman Juraj Mikus fanned on his rebound clearing attempt allowing Bill Sweatt to swoop in and stuff the loose puck into the net. Sweatt's 15th goal of the season, assisted by Connauton and Mario Bliznak, gave Manitoba a late 1-0 lead.

The Moose finally built a lead late in the game, then had to defend the lead by killing two straight minor penalties. First Aaron Volpatti was charged with interference after bowling through a Marlies defenceman while driving the net at 5:27. Then as he left the box, Bliznak was called hooking. Manitoba killed both off both penalties making it six-for-six on the day.

For the second time in the game, a Moose defenceman was guilty of clearing the glass on a clearing attempt. Mark Flood went to the box at 18:04 of the third period with his team winning by only one goal.

With the yawning cage and an extra attacker, the Marlies poured on the pressure but Eddie Lack and Manitoba's penalty kill extinguished their seventh minor penalty of the game. Lack's 33rd save of the game with seconds left secured Manitoba's 1-0 victory on Sunday in front of 6,084 fans at Ricoh Coliseum. The Moose return to Winnipeg this week before setting off to Peoria for their game against the Rivermen on Friday, Mar. 4. Game time at Carver Arena is 7:05 p.m. CST and Brian Munz brings you the action live on CJOB 68. Listen online at www.cjob.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 27, 2011


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