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Moose Turn Down the Heat 2-1

March 27, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


At a time often reserved for NFL kickoff, the Manitoba Moose (40-27-1-5) and Abbotsford Heat (34-27-4-6) dropped the puck on their eighth and final game of the season. The Moose, who had won five of seven games against Abbotsford, hosted the Heat in front of 8,792 fans for a noon game at MTS Centre. Moose goalie Eddie Lack was Manitoba's most valuable player for a second straight game stopping 44 of 45 shots while recently returned centre Marco Rosa scored the game winner early in the third period of a 2-1 win.

Manitoba's roster required some tailoring after a pair of injuries to Jordan Schroeder and Joel Perrault in Friday's game. In Perrault's absence, Kevin Clark was inserted onto a line with Cody Hodgson and Bill Sweatt. Meanwhile Stefan Schneider made his return to the Moose roster since being injured back on Mar. 4.

The physical tone was set early on by the home team. Manitoba's rookie d-man Yann Sauve took part in his first pro fight on Friday, then delivered the game's first monster hit on Sunday when he caught the Heat's MacGregor Sharp off balance while bearing down on an offensive rush.

The second huge hit of the game came seconds before the Heat scored the game's first goal at 10:44. Manitoba's Guillaume Desbiens stapled the Heat's Quintin Laing in the Moose zone, but Laing took the hit to make a play to linemate Carter Bancks in the slot. His shot was deflected by Ryan MacMurchy giving the Heat an early 1-0 lead.

To intimidate an opponent, a player will often test the boundaries of what will and won't get them a penalty. Manitoba's Garth Murray crossed that line when he roughed up Quintin Laing after the whistle for slapping at a covered puck. Then during the penalty kill, Moose defenceman Ryan Parent was whistled for holding, putting the home team down two skaters.

The Moose did well to kill off the 5-on-3 late in the period but would not have done so without goalie Eddie Lack tracking rebound after rebound. The period ended with Abbotsford holding a significant lead in the shot department, 21-9.

Manitoba's power play had work in the second period. First on an early man advantage that the Heat killed off without surrendering a shot on goal. Then again midway through the period with Abbotsford's Chris Breen hauled away for tripping at 12:27. The Moose power play unit converted on their second chance with Mark Flood wiring a one time slap shot from the point past screen set up by forward Shawn Weller. The power play marker at 13:25 was Flood's 10th goal of the season and team leading fifth on the power play.

Bouncing back after a one-sided first period, the Moose poured 13 shots on Heat goalie J.P. Lamoureux for a two period total of 22. The Moose and Heat squared at 1-1 after 40 minutes setting up an even start to the final frame.

Marco Rosa returned to Manitoba's line up on Friday after missing the previous 29 games. Scoring a goal in his first game back, Rosa continued his new point streak on Sunday with a first period assist then a goal early in the third to put the Moose up 2-1. A strong frecheck caused the Heat to cough up the puck in the slot where Rosa waited for an attempting shot blocker to slide by, then roofed the puck past Lamoureux.

One of Manitoba's top shot blockers and penalty killers this season has been rookie Stefan Schneider. His return in Sunday's game proved vital in the third period when Schneider helped kill off penalties to Travis Ramsey and Kevin Clark while laying out for several point shots by the Heat.

The Heat pulled J.P. Lamoureux while trailing by one but they didn't keep the extra man for long. Heat forward Ryan Stone took a boarding penalty when he belted Manitoba's Yann Sauve with 25 seconds remaining. The Moose were awarded a power play, effectively ending the Heat's comeback bid as Manitoba held on for a 2-1 win in their final meeting with Abbotsford this season. North division rivals, the Rochester Americans, visit MTS Centre on Tuesday & Wednesday Mar. 29 & 30 for an important home series with seven games left on Manitoba's schedule. Brian Munz and Jim Toth call the action on CJOB 68. Game time is 7:30 p.m. CST.

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