Moose streak ends at six

Published on January 22, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


The season's longest win streak came to an end for the Manitoba Moose as the team dropped a 5-2 decision to the San Antonio Rampage Friday, Dec. 19. The series started well for the Moose with a 4-1 win over the Rampage on Wednesday, Dec. 17. The win extended Manitoba's win-streak to six games and improved the club's home record to 13-6-2-2. The Moose failed to sweep the series, however, and Friday night the Rampage dealt Manitoba their first outright loss in 13 games and first outright loss at home since Dec. 6/06.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007: In San Antonio's first visit to the MTS Centre this season, the Rampage got off to an early lead over the Moose but failed to hold on for the win. Yannick Tremblay tied the game late in the first period, his first of three points (2G, 1A) in the game. Second period goals by Adam Keefe and Jannik Hansen rounded out Manitoba's scoring contribution. Earning his fifth win in five starts, Drew MacIntyre stopped 22 of 23 shots, and Keefe was awarded his third professional game-winning goal, his first as a Moose.

Friday, January 19, 2007: Despite a slow start by both teams two nights later, San Antonio found their scoring touch in the second period, slipping four un-answered goals past Moose netminder Julien Ellis. The Moose countered by out-shooting the Rampage 16-5 in the third period, with Jannik Hansen and Mike Keane hitting the back of the net to put the home team on the board, but it was too little, too late. San Antonio's 5-2 win was Manitoba's first loss in seven games and second outright loss to the Rampage in 10 overall games at home.

MOOSE NOTES

So long, win streak: Friday night's loss to the San Antonio Rampage ended Manitoba's six-game win streak, the longest of the season. Prior to Friday's loss, the Moose had earned at least a point in every game since Dec. 17/06 and a point in every home game dating back to Dec. 8/06. The last time the Moose lost outright at home was Dec. 6/06 when the team fell 3-2 to the Rochester Americans. The Moose were only one win away from tying a franchise record for most consecutive home wins (a record set in the 1999-2000 season) and two wins away from tying the league record for most consecutive wins this season. (The Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights started the 06-07 season with eight wins in a row.)

Potent penalty killing: Despite falling to the Rampage Jan. 19, Manitoba's penalty-kill unit stifled San Antonio for the second night in a row, improving their league-wide second-ranked penalty-killing to 89.3%. Only the Bridgeport Sound Tigers have a better penalty-kill percentage this season, stifling 90% of opponent powerplay opportunities. In their last seven games, the Moose have allowed only two powerplay goals in 31 chances but have scored nine times in 33 man-advantage opportunities. The last time the Moose allowed a powerplay goal was Jan. 11/07 vs. the Hamilton Bulldogs; prior to that, the Rochester Americans posted a powerplay marker Jan. 4/07.

Hansen on a hot streak: Moose forward Jannik Hansen has picked up his point production this month, tallying seven points in his past six games, including a goal in Friday's 5-2 loss to San Antonio. After going point-less in the Syracuse series (Dec. 30 & 31/06), the 20-year-old from Denmark posted three points (2G, 1A) Jan. 4 & 5/07 vs. Rochester, and another two assists Jan. 11/07 vs. Hamilton. A goal in each of the San Antonio games puts Hansen on a two-game goal streak heading into Wednesday's game in Wilkes-Barre. 45 games into the season, Hansen sits fourth on the Moose leaderboard with 26 points (9G, 17A).

UPCOMING OPPONENTS

In their first road game since Dec. 28/06, the Manitoba Moose visit the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Wednesday evening, the final time the two teams will meet this season. On Oct. 4/06, the Penguins hosted the Moose in the first game of the 06-07 AHL season, beating the Manitoba squad 3-2 in overtime. Later that month, the Moose lost their home series vs. the Penguins Oct. 26 & 27/06 (WBS 3 @ MTB 2 SO; WBS 4 @ MTB 3). Manitoba has a 0-1-1-1 record against Wilkes-Barre this season, and holds a 4-3-1-3 all-time record vs. the Penguins.

For the fourth time this season, the Moose and Syracuse Crunch face off Friday night in Syracuse. After edging-out the Crunch 1-0 Nov. 18/06 at the War Memorial, the Moose dropped a 5-4 overtime decision to the Crunch Dec. 30/06 but rebounded with a 4-3 win New Year's Eve. As a result, Manitoba is 2-0-1-0 this season vs. Syracuse and has an overall record of 7-6-1-1 in 15 games played between both clubs. In Syracuse, the Moose are 4-3-0-0, including three overtime wins.

In the second of back-to-back North Division match-ups, the Hamilton Bulldogs host the Moose Saturday, Jan. 27. Manitoba swept Hamilton at the MTS Centre earlier this month, pushing this season's record vs. the Bulldogs to 4-0-0-2. Although the Moose have an all-time record of 18-26-2-4 against the Bulldogs, Manitoba is 5-18-2-1 in Hamilton, recording only one win (Nov. 21/06, MTB 5 @ HAM 4) at Copps Coliseum since Oct. 31/04.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE

#38 Yannick Tremblay - Defence

Yannick Tremblay appeared in two games for the Moose this week, collecting two goals and an assist January 17th vs. San Antonio, good for first star honours... The 31-year-old defenceman then fired four shots on goal the following night vs. the Rampage... Despite missing 17 games due to injury and 11 games while playing with the Vancouver Canucks, Tremblay leads all Moose defencemen in points this season with eight goals and nine assists in 16 games played... He is also third on the team in powerplay goals with six, including his first-period goal last Wednesday vs. the Rampage... Since being re-assigned to the Moose by Vancouver on December 29th, Tremblay has tallied 11 points (5G, 6A) in seven games.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 22, 2007


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