Moose thump Wolves 6-0

Published on January 3, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


Kevin Bieksa and Jason King each had two goals and Peter Sarno had three assists as the Manitoba Moose defeated the Chicago Wolves 6-0 to kick off 2005 on a winning note.

Chicago goaltender Kari Lehtonen had a rare night off this evening, with Michael Garnett making only his sixth appearance in goal this season for the Wolves. Wade Flaherty got his second start in a row for the Moose.

The Moose struck for the game's first goal. Alexandre Burrows one-timed a Jesse Schultz pass from behind the net low glove side on Garnett.

Ryan Kesler had a great chance to double their lead while on the penalty kill. He singlehandedly rushed the puck up ice and managed to move around the Wolves defenceman and break in alone. However, his backhander from in close just went wide stick side.

Late in the period, Josh Green rifled a shot on a two-on-one that had the corner picked but Garnett stuck out the pad to make a great save.

The Moose did manage to make it 2-0 with just over 90 seconds to play in the opening frame. Peter Sarno intercepted a Wolves clearing attempt at the point and found Jason King at the side of the net. He thread the needle with his pass, and King swept the puck in for his 20th of the year.

Garnett made a miraculous save off King during a Moose powerplay in the second period. Sarno wired the puck across the slot over to King, who one-timed it on net. Garnett somehow was able to get across and put a pad on it.

Throughout the second, the Moose had plenty of chances to add to their lead but were unable to convert.

Chicago failed to generate much offence with the exception of a chance by Ben Simon on an odd-man rush that Flaherty stopped easily.

Just past the 19 minute mark of the second, the Moose were finally able to score. Kevin Bieksa took a pass from Lee Goren and blasted it by Garnett.

After two periods, shots were 23-18 with the Moose enjoying a commanding 3-0 lead.

Manitoba blew the game wide open early in the third when Chicago ran into some penalty trouble. While the Wolves were already down two men, Travis Roche took a cross-checking penalty to extend the Manitoba powerplay.

Seconds later, in a carbon copy of his first goal Jason King one-timed a pass from Sarno that made it 4-0 Moose.

King's goal came with three Wolves in the box, so the two-man advantage continued. The Moose continued to pound the puck on Chicago and eventually scored their fifth of the game.

Nolan Baumgartner fed the puck to Bieksa, who ripped the puck from the left faceoff circle. King drew a second assist on the play.

Things started to get out of hand after the fifth Moose goal. Chicago's Brian Maloney dropped the gloves with Burrows. The fight was even, though Maloney received the instigator penalty. A minute later, a skirmish erupted involving all five players on both teams. The result of which was an extended Moose powerplay.

Just as the final penalty was about to expire, Jeff Heerema scored to extend the Moose lead to 6-0. Heerema tipped in a Joe DiPenta point shot for his seventh goal of the season.

Things boiled over just past the 15-minute mark of the third. On the same play Kevin Bieksa fought Kevin Doell, Tim Wedderburn and Jesse Schultz fought and Wade Brookbank dropped the gloves with Brian Sipotz. The result of the fireworks was a five-on-three powerplay for Chicago.

Chicago cycled the puck well on the powerplay and had a few chances but Manitoba penalty killers were able to preserve Flaherty's shutout.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 3, 2005


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