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Moose sweep the Crunch

February 12, 2007 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


The Manitoba Moose won both of their games in week 19 over the visiting Syracuse Crunch to improve their overall season record to 25-16-7-4. The Moose put in some extra time on Friday as the game went to a shootout that needed 14 shooters aside before Lee Goren provided the game-winning goal. For the rematch on Saturday, the team drew some much needed energy from the largest crowd of the season at the MTS Centre of 14,015 screaming fans. The team scored five goals in the second period and hung on for a 5-2 victory to send the energetic crowd home happy. The Moose are currently third in the North Division standings with 61 points, five points behind the second place Hamilton Bulldogs.

Friday, February 9, 2007: A close game through two periods saw the ice tilt entirely to the Moose zone for the third as the Crunch dominated the final frame 15-1 in shots, tying a season low for shots in a period for the Moose. Drew MacIntyre held the Moose in it, making some spectacular saves to prevent the Crunch from scoring and sending the game into overtime. Andrew Murray of Selkirk, MB took a 5:00 high-sticking major at the end of regulation time, which put Manitoba on the powerplay for the entire overtime session. Despite the extended 4-on-3 advantage, the Moose could not capitalize and the game would require a shootout to decide a winner. The Moose hadn't had much luck in the shootout this season, having lost all four of their previous games that went beyond overtime. This one turned into a marathon, needing 14 shooters aside to finally determine a winner. Lee Goren roofed a shot past Ty Conklin scoring his second shootout goal in three tries on the night and then Drew MacIntyre made his 11th save of the shootout stopping Adam Pineault on his attempt to secure the extra point for the Moose and give them their first shootout victory of the year.

Saturday, February 10, 2007: A huge crowd took in Saturday night's contest as their were several promotions on for the evening. Saturday was Old Time Hockey Night, Minor Hockey Night and Follow Your Dreams Night at the MTS Centre. Over 2,500 youths from northern communities were flown into the game as part of Follow Your Dreams night, while over 2,000 minor hockey players were in attendance as part of Minor Hockey Night. The Hockey Hall of Fame had a display in the concourse and their were tons of prizes and giveaways throughout the night to celebrate Old Time Hockey at the MTS Centre. Sporting their Old Time Hockey jerseys (as pictured above), the Moose used the energy from the crowd to take control of a scoreless game in the second period as they broke out with five goals in the middle frame. Jesse Schultz and Nathan Smith both snapped lengthy goal-less droughts to help pace the team to a 5-2 victory and improve the team's record versus Syracuse this season to 3-0-2-0.

The team closes out their six-game home stand this week versus the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights at the MTS Centre Monday, February 12th and Wednesday, February 14th before heading out on a six-game road trip that will take them to Syracuse, Rochester, and Toronto.

MOOSE NOTES

Extra effort in extra time: Friday's 3-2 shootout victory over the Syracuse Crunch was Manitoba's first shootout win this season and first shootout victory at home since Nov. 30/05, when the team won 4-3 over the Hamilton Bulldogs. The win improves Manitoba's record to 2-7 in overtime, and 1-4 in shootouts over 14 games decided in extra time. Prior to Friday's win, the last time the Moose won a game in extra time was Dec. 20/06 vs. Hamilton when the team won 2-1 in overtime. Last season, Manitoba won three out of 10 games decided in overtime and four out of nine games decided in a shootout en-route to a 44-24-7-5 record.

Snapping a slump I: With a two-goal performance in Saturday night's game vs. Syracuse, Jesse Schultz ended an eight-game goal-less drought and five-game pointless streak. His 11th and 12th goals of the season, one of which came on the powerplay, were his first since Jan. 12/07 vs. the Hamilton Bulldogs. Last season, Schultz never went longer than seven games without a goal and led the Moose in scoring with 37 goals and 30 assists for 67 points.

Snapping a slump II: Like Schultz, Nathan Smith also snapped his goal-less drought Saturday night with one goal and two assists in the second period plus a fight in the third to complete the Gordie Howe hat-trick. Prior to the Syracuse game, Smith went nine games without scoring a goal, dating back to Jan. 11/07 vs. Hamilton. His last point came Jan. 24/07 at Wilkes-Barre. So far this season, Smith has 10 goals and 13 assists, good for eighth on the team in scoring.

Jaffray back on top: With three points in the 5-2 victory over the Syracuse Crunch on Saturday, Jason Jaffray has once again moved into the overall scoring lead for the Manitoba Moose this season. With then team scoring leader Brad Moran, getting called up to the Vancouver Canucks last Friday, Jaffray collected four points (1G + 3A) in the two games versus the Crunch, to overtake Moran for the team lead. Jaffray currently has 25 goals and 28 assists for 53 points in 49 games played this season, which leaves him 12th in AHL scoring.

UPCOMING OPPONENTS

The Maniotba Moose will play host to the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights for the first time this season at the MTS Centre Monday, February 12th and Wednesday, February 14th. Last season was the first time the Moose and Knights had faced each other since Manitoba joined the AHL as 2005-06 was Omaha's first season in the AHL. The Knights hold an early advantage after last season, as the Moose were 1-2-1-0 versus the Knights. The Moose were 0-2 at the MTS Centre versus Omaha last season as they were held to one goal in both home contests. The last time these teams faced each other was at the Civic Auditorium in Omaha Mar. 3/06, where the Moose fell 3-2 in overtime.

The Moose start their six-game road trip with a visit to the Onandoga County War Memorial at Oncenter in Syracuse to take on the Crunch Friday, February 16th. The Moose just completed a two-game sweep over the Crunch at the MTS Centre but both games played in Syracuse this season have ended in 1-0 shutout victories. One for Manitoba on Nov. 18/06 and the other more recently when Syracuse defeated Manitoba 1-0 in overtime Jan. 26/07.

Manitoba will then roll into Rochester to take on the first place Americans on Sunday, February 18th at the Blue Cross Arena. The Moose have a record of 2-3-1-0 versus the Amerks this season, losing their last visit to the Blue Cross Arena in overtime on Nov. 17/06. The Moose scored two third period goals in that game, including the game-tying goal with just 0:42 left in regulation to send it to overtime. However, Kamil Kreps ended the game just 0:13 into overtime to earn the victory for the Americans.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE

#1 Drew MacIntyre - Goalie

Drew MacIntyre made both starts for the Moose this week, winning both contests over the division-rival Syracuse Crunch...MacIntyre is now yet to lose a game in regulation in his last 14 appearances and the undefeated week ran his record to 14-7-2...His last regulation loss was back on Dec. 17/06 at San Antonio...Since that game, MacIntyre is now 7-2 with the other defeat coming in overtime...This week, MacIntyre stopped not only 25 shots on Friday night, but he also stopped 11 of 14 shots in the shootout to backstop the Moose to a 3-2 shootout win...He then followed that up with a 30-save performance to lead the Moose to a 5-2 win over Syracuse...For the week, MacIntyre compiled a goals against average of 2.00 and a save percentage of .932...He is now fifth in the league in save percentage at .920 and has a goals against average of 2.29 so far this season....



American Hockey League Stories from February 12, 2007


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