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Moose topple Rivermen 6-1

October 20, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


The game started off with an even pace as the teams worked the puck around without a whistle for the first three minutes and without any major scoring opportunities.

The first good scoring opportunity came for the Moose when they grabbed a loose puck in front and took a quick shot on Curtis Sanford. Wideman was forced to crosscheck a Moose player down to prevent him from any further opportunities, putting the Moose on the powerplay.

Green had a great chance to score on the powerplay as he streaked down the right wing and fired a quick shot just wide right of Curtis Sanford.

The Moose went on their second powerplay of the game when D.J King was sent off for slashing with 6:28 gone. On the powerplay the Moose passed the puck nicely in the Peoria zone but couldn't register a decent shot. They did, however, force Peoria to take another penalty as DiSalvatore was sent off for hooking, giving the Moose a 5-3 advantage. The Moose blasted a half dozen good shots on Sanford, but couldn't beat him, the score remained tied at zeros with ten minutes to play.

The Moose struck first seconds later as Burrows, Green and Brown worked a pretty tic-tac-toe passing play with Green finishing with Brown putting it into a wide open net.

DeMone took a hooking penalty at 14:13 of the first putting the Rivermen on their second powerplay of the game. A great chance for the Rivermen to equalize came as Mike Glumac, all alone in front, took a loose puck and made a nice move, but couldn't work it past Flaherty.

The first period finished with the score 1-0 and the shots 9-6, both in favor of the Moose.

The Moose came out firing in the second as Jesse Schultz skated down the right wing and snapped a quick shot over the left shoulder of Sanford.

The Moose had another great opportunity to go up three after Blake Evans of Peoria was sent off for slashing. The Moose controlled the puck well in the Peoria zone but could only manage a few quick shots, which didn't bother Sanford.

The teams played four on four at 6:49 as Rypien and Riddle were assesed minor penalties. Green faught off two Peoria defensemen as he cut in front of Sanford from the right wing and lifted the puck past the Rivermen keeper for a 3-0 Moose lead.

Things got heated with about eight minutes to play in the second after Nathan McIver shoved down a Peoria player. Peoria toughman Rocky Thompson took exception to the play. Both Thompson and McIver were given two minute roughing penalties.

Peter Senja had a great opportunity to get Peoria on the scoresheet with six minutes to play in the period, as he took the puck at centre ice and streaked in alone on Flaherty. He made a nice move to the left and fired a quick shot in which Flaherty turned away with ease.

Peoria wasted their best oppotunity to get back in the game after the Moose gave them a 5-3 poweplay for 1:50. Peoria had a couple decent chances in front of Flaherty but couldn't capitalize.

It was the Moose that struck again after their penalties had expired. With minutes to play in the second, it was Balej who benefitted from a nice Moose passing play as he popped the fourth Moose of the game passed Curtis Sanford.

Peoria was able to close out the period by getting a goal back on a Troy Riddle goal.

4-1 after two with the shots 16-15 for the Moose.

With 26 seconds played in third, the Moose went on their sixth powerplay of the game after Gavin Morgan was sent off for high sticking. The powerplay chance didn't last long as Burrows, attempting to drop the gloves, was sent off for roughing.

The teams exchanged play back and forth midway through the third without any major scoring opportunities to speak of.

Peoria's Troy Riddle almost had his second goal og the night as he snuck in from the left corner and shelfed a shot that beat Flaherty, but not the post.

Gustav Engman had to be helped off the the after he was crushed into the boards by D.J. King. Engman looked shaky skating off of the ice and was immediately taken to the dressing room. King was given a five minute major for charging.

With 7:43 to play and Peoria still killing off the King major, Peoria's Troy Riddle took a tripping penalty after hauling down Mike Keane. Manitoba worked the five on three to perfection as Doig made a nice pass to Craig Darby at the side of the net, who put the puck into a wide open net.

After Rypien took tripping penalty at 16:07, Peoria pulled Sanford to put give them a six on four man advantage. The Moose handled a flurry of Peoria shots and Nathan SMith was able to break out of the zone and flip one into an empty net for a 6-1 Moose lead.

Shortly after the Nathan Smith goal the fireworks at the MTS Centre ensued. Trying to get back for the earlier D.J. King hit on Gustav Engman, Manitoba attempted to tie up King in the corner. It seemed like every Moose player grabbed a Peoria skater and either held him up or exchanged blows. The best fight of the group came between Rick Rypien and Doug Lynch as Lynch started off the fight with a flurry of punches landing on Rypien. Rypien held his own however, coming back with a few quick shots at Lynch before taking him down to the cheers of 7000 strong. Multiple penalties were called in the scrum and the teams played the last minute without any infractions.

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