Moose Take Down Monsters 4-2

Published on February 19, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


WINNIPEG, MB - Sitting on top of the North Division, the Manitoba Moose (30-20-1-5) had been disguised as a first place team but haven't been playing like one over the past week. They were finally knocked off their perch by the Lake Erie Monsters (29-23-3-5) on Friday night and had the chance to retake a share of the division lead in the rematch on Saturday. The largest MTS Centre crowd of the season showed up for Hockey Night in Manitoba and were not disappointed to see the home team open up a 4-0 lead by the game's halfway point. Moose goalie Eddie Lack had his shutout bid ruined with less than three minutes to play but still made 27 saves to back his team's 4-2 win.

They looked a little like the Broadstreet Bullies, but they still played like the Manitoba Moose. The home team honoured local minor hockey on Saturday night by wearing the jerseys of the Gateway Flyers after Gateway Community Club earned the right to see their sweaters worn by the Moose on Hockey Night in Manitoba.

The orange, black, and white Moose wore the Flyers threads well, out-shooting and out-chancing the Monsters through the first period. Through 15 minutes of scoreless hockey, Manitoba had outshot Lake Erie 13-3.

That score didn't last much longer as the Moose flew into Lake Erie's zone with the puck, then Stefan Schneider dropped the puck to Kevin Clark who sent across to Garth Murray in the slot. Murray made no mistake with a low wrist shot that evaded Jason Bacashihua for the first goal of the game at 15:48.

Manitoba's Alexandre Bolduc bolted on a breakaway minutes later and backed Bacashihua into his own net. Both the goalie and the puck crossed the goal line giving the Moose a 2-0 lead at 17:10. The Moose followed that up with another goal at 17:10.

The Moose opened the second period with a text book penalty kill, typical of the first ranked PK unit in the league. It was their second shorthanded situation of the game.

About six minutes into the second period, Moose centre Mario Bliznak came as close as you can without scoring. The puck squeaked through Bacashihua on a rush. Then Bliznak, off-balance but within reach, swatted at the puck but had it scooped off the goal line by Lake Erie d-man Kevin Montgomery.

That near goal was easier to swallow for Moose fans when Sergei Shirokov lifted one in off of the cross bar from the top of the crease less than a minute later. A shot from the side of the net by Kevin Clark bounced off of Bacashihua's skate to Shirokov waiting directly in front to bury his 17th goal of the season at 6:42.

Mario Bliznak was gifted a chance at goal redemption on his next shift when Sergei Shirokov offered up a no look pass before skating behind the back of the net. Bliznak tapped in the brilliant feed that clearly fooled Bacashihua. Manitoba's fourth goal of the game, scored at 8:17, chased the Monsters starting goaltender from the net as Lake Erie threw backup Trevor Cann into the crease.

Manitoba's offence was putting on the clinic through the first 40 minutes, but Eddie Lack was a rock for the Moose in the third. After shaking off a rocky start on Friday night, Lack denied the Monsters on a series of solid chances early in the third. His most difficult save on a rebound off of a rush by Lake Erie's Julian Talbot. The put squeaked through but Lack's deflected it with his skate just wide of the post to preserve the 4-0 lead.

Lack's goose egg finally cracked with 2:49 left in the game. With Moose d-man Kevin Connauton sitting for cross-checking, Lake Erie's Ben Walter leaned into a deflected puck that Lack couldn't track. Walter's 18th spoild Lack's bid for a fourth shutout this season.

Before the game ended, Lake Erie put one more on the board. From the same spot that Walter scored from in the right circle, Luke Walker sniped a wrist shot over Lack's shoulder scoring a second Monsters' goal with 1;00 remaining.

The attempted comeback was short lived and far from enough as Lack helped secure his team's 4-2 rematch win with 27 saves. The Moose regained a share of the North Division lead with the victory on Saturday night.

The Moose head out onto the road for the next 11 games and will play their next home game on Mar. 15 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The first road date is on Wednesday, Feb. 23 in Rochester with puck drop at 6:05 p.m. CST. Brian Munz will bring you the action live on CJOB 68.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 19, 2011


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