Moose split home-opening series with Phantoms

October 16, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


The Manitoba Moose opened their 2006-07 home schedule with a two-game series with the Philadelphia Phantoms. Friday the 13th proved an ominous day, as heavy winds caused damage to a neighbouring building to the MTS Centre. The True North staff and Winnipeg emergency services did an excellent job of making sure the home-opener went off without incident. Unfortunately they weren't able to rescue the game for the home team as they came out flat for the sell-out crowd of 8800 fans. The Moose got down 2-0 to the visiting Philadelphia Phantoms after the first period, thanks to goals by David Printz and Mark Cullen. The goal by David Printz marked the first time the Moose failed to score the first goal of the game this season. It was also the first time the Moose failed to hold the lead after 20 minutes. From that point on Winnipeg native, Rejean Beauchemin kept the score sheet clean for the Phantoms as he stopped all 30 shots the Moose fired at him. The Philadelphia penalty killing was the main difference in the game as the Moose went 0 for 8 on the power play.

The Moose bounced back with a much grittier effort in Game two of the back-to-back series with the Phantoms. The home team scored first on a goal by Mike Keane from just inside the blue-line, but the visitors battled back and tied the game early in the third on a well-screened shot that slipped past Wade Flaherty. Flaherty got his payback, however, as the veteran goalie soon caught the Phantoms on a penalty kill line-change. Just outside the Philadelphia blue line, Rick Rypien received the pass from Flaherty and partnered-up with Nathan Smith to press the Phantoms with a two-on-one. Rypien fed a beautiful touch pass cross-crease that Smith tipped in past Martin Houle for the game-winning goal. Philadelphia pushed to tie the game late in the third, but Manitoba held onto their lead and notched their second win of the season, first at home.

The Moose are off until this Friday, October 20th when they head to Milwaukee to take on the Admirals and then they head to Chicago next Tuesday to take on the Wolves.

MOOSE NOTES

Record on Friday the 13th: With their defeat to the Phantoms Friday night in their home-opener, the Moose lost for only the second time when playing on Friday, the 13th. Overall, the Moose are now 5-2-0-2 in games played on Friday the 13th. Actually, the last time the Moose played on Friday the 13th prior to their most recent game against the Phantoms, was also against Philadelphia at the MTS Centre. That night, the Moose defeated the Phantoms 3-1 on January 13/06.

Moose mark first loss to Philly: Friday night's shutout defeat to Philadelphia marked the first time the Moose have lost to the Phantoms in their five meetings. Entering Friday night's game, the Moose were a perfect 4-and-0 against the Phantoms with three wins in regulation and one win in overtime.

Moran's streak comes to an end: As a result of Friday's shut-out defeat to the Phantoms, Brad Moran's four-game goal-scoring streak and four-game point streak came to an end. Moran took a high-stick to the face from Stefan Ruzicka in the home-opener and did not play in Saturday night's game.

UPCOMING OPPONENTS

The Moose will play their first meeting of the season against the Milwaukee Admirals this Friday. The last time these teams met the Moose scored four straight goals in the first period and skated to a 4-1 win at the MTS Centre. The last meeting in Milwaukee the home town Admirals quelched a Moose comeback scoring two late goals for a 7-4 victory. The Moose and Admirals split their season series last year with two wins a peice.

The Moose will play their first meeting of the season against the Chicago Wolves on Tuesday, October 24th. The last meeting between the Moose and Wolves was at the MTS Centre where Chicago scored three unanswered goals in the third period for the 4-2 victory. The last meeting in Chicago the Moose started an eight-game road trip with a 5-2 victory over the Wolves.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE

#33 Wade Flaherty - Goaltender

Wade Flaherty returned to the Moose after his assignment from the Canucks to begin the week and saw action in both games this past weekend...He finished the week 1-1-0 after a 3-0 loss to the Phantoms and a 2-1 victory over Philadelphia also...He stopped 34 of 36 shots in the two games to begin the season with a 1.52 goals against average and a .917 save percentage...As a result, the Terrace, B.C. native is tied for fifth among goalies in the AHL in GAA...Flaherty also made the key play in setting up Manitoba's game-winning goal in Saturday's 2-1 victory over the Phantoms and earned his first assist of the season.



American Hockey League Stories from October 16, 2006


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