Moose Trail Calder Cup Finals 3-1

Published on June 8, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


In Week 35, the Moose recorded a single win and two consecutive losses to trail the Calder Cup Finals 3-1. Manitoba looks to fight off elimination tomorrow night when they face the Hershey Bears for Game 5 at the Giant Center. Jason Jaffray recorded his second playoff hat trick in Game 2 of the series (3-1W), while the Moose were shutout for the first time this postseason in Game 3 (3-0L). Goaltender Cory Schneider appeared in all three games for his club and stopped 80 of 85 shots over the course of the week.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009: Manitoba 3, Hershey 1

In a game that looked like it was destined for overtime, the Manitoba Moose scored two goals in the final 47 seconds to even the Calder Cup Finals series with a 3-1 win over the Hershey Bears in Game 2. Jason Jaffray scored all three goals for the home team, while Cory Schneider stopped 27 shots in his 18th consecutive appearance.

Saturday, June 6, 2009: Manitoba 0, Hershey 3

For the first time this postseason, the Moose failed to record a point and were shutout by the Hershey Bears 3-0 in Game 3 of the Calder Cup Finals. The Bears now lead the series 2-1 heading into Game 4 tomorrow night. Goaltender Cory Schneider made 26 saves in his 19th consecutive appearance while Bears netminder Michal Neuvirth earned his fourth shutout this postseason.

Sunday, June 7, 2009: Manitoba 1, Hershey 2

The Manitoba Moose sacrificed a 2-1 decision in Game 4 of the Calder Cup Finals to the Hershey Bears on Sunday afternoon in front of 10,739 fans at the Giant Center. The Moose now trail the series 3-1 and have to win the next three games to clinch the Calder Cup Title. Raymond Sawada scored Manitoba's lone goal while goaltender Cory Schneider stopped 31 shots in his 20th consecutive appearance.

Moose Notes

DO OR DIE IN GAME 5: In their entire AHL history, the Moose are 5-5 in Game 5 of a postseason series. Manitoba has only played two Game 5's this playoff run, winning the first against the Toronto Marlies in the North Division Semi-Final (5-2W) and dropping their most recent fifth game to the Houston Aeros in the Western Conference Finals (4-3OTL). The win against Toronto was the only time the Moose won a Game 5 on the road, posting a 1-4 record. The Moose are 5-1 in series where they win Game 5, and 2-4 in series where they lose the fifth match up.

SKID EXTENDS TO FOUR: The Moose and Bears continue their Calder Cup battle tonight in Hershey for Game 5. Manitoba heads into tonight's battle on a four-game road losing streak. The last time the Moose pulled off a win on the road was on May 18/09 @ Houston in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals (4-3W). The Moose are 21-24 all-time on the road in their AHL playoff history. However, so far in this year's postseason, the Moose hold a 5-5 record when playing away from the MTS Centre. During the 2008-09 regular season, the Moose set a new franchise record with a 25-10-1-4 mark away from the MTS Centre.

"RAY" OF LIGHT: Raymond Sawada has scored the only Manitoba goal at the Giant Center so far this series. The rookie right-winger notched the opening goal in the first period in Game 4 on Sunday afternoon. This was his fourth goal of the postseason and eighth point (4-4-8). Sawada was drafted by Dallas in the second round, 52nd overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Upcoming Opponent

Tomorrow night the Moose look to fight off elimination when they battle in Game 5 of the Calder Cup Finals in Hershey.

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American Hockey League Stories from June 8, 2009


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