Moose Turn It up with 4-0 Win Over Heat

Published on January 4, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


ABBOTSFORD - In the only action on the AHL schedule Monday night, eyes were on the Manitoba Moose (19-11-0-4) and Abbotsford Heat (16-17-1-3). Two teams not lacking motivation and looking to shake recent performances. The Moose scored early and often while Manitoba's Tyler Weiman was perfect in his first start since Dec. 11. Sergei Shirokov's first of two goals stood as the game winner in a 4-0 win by the Moose in front of 6,154 fans at Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre.

Last time the Moose were in Abbotsford, their starting goaltender Leland Irving gave Manitoba fits stopping 40 of 41 shots in the first of two games. On Monday night, the Heat elected to go with backup Matt Keetley.

Success has come with chemistry for the Moose as of late. One line that has embodied both of those things is the forward trio of Sergei Shirokov-Shawn Weller-Joel Perrault. Just 3:33 into the opening period, a Nolan Baumgartner point shot was stopped by Abbotsford's Keetley but Shirokov quickly dragged the rebound outside the crease and lifted the puck into the open net. The goal was Shirokov's fifth in the past six games.

The building sat puzzled with five minutes left in the first period because Jonas Andersson appeared to beat Keetley off a one time pass from Mario Bliznak on the rush. But the puck hit the inside of the post and bounced out on a play that would ideally require video review. Without that luxury, the call on the ice was no goal adn the Moose remained up by one goal.

The period ended with Manitoba outshooting Abbotsford 11-6 and leading 1-0. Tyler Weiman, appearing in Manitoba's net for the first game since Dec. 11, turned away all Heat attempts including a few on their only power play of the first period.

The Moose dressed seven defencemen for the second straight game. After an apparent injury in the first period, Joel Perrault was not on the bench when the Moose returned for the second period leaving them with 10 forwards.

Replacing Perrault on that line was Mario Bliznak who didn't make a wrinkle in their chemistry. Just 4:42 into the period, Bliznak carried the puck behind the net then nailed a pass onto the stick of Shirokov while driving hard to the net. Shirokov quickly fired the puck past Keetley for his second of the night. Shawn Weller drew the second assist on Shirokov's 12th goal of the season.

A bench minor midway through the second period put the Moose down by one man. But that situation evened up when the Moose pulled their goalie on a delayed penalty. They held possession for an extended period even making it look like a Moose power play despite five players aside. Eventually Baumgartner threaded a pass through three Heat players to Marco Rosa, who stalled on the shot then rifled one to the top shelf.

Rosa's goal at 7:46 of the second period gave Manitoba a 3-0 lead and chased Matt Keetley from Abbotsford's net. Leland Irving then took over for the remaining 32:14 left in the game.

Irving didn't keep the door shut for long but couldn't be blamed as Mario Bliznak scored a highlight reel goal at 15:16. Jonas Andersson bounced a pass off the wall to Bliznak streaking through the neutral zone, then Bliznak pulled the puck to the backhand to the right of the net and roofed it from in tight to give the Moose a 4-0 lead.

Tyler Weiman showed zero rust despite sitting for the last seven games. Stopping his first 12 shots of the night, his 13th was the flashiest as he gloved a shot by Heat leading scorer Greg Nemisz from point blank range. The glove save preserved Manitoba's late four goal lead.

Weiman stopped 17 in total during the third period for three period total of 27. In his first start in eight games, Weiman was perfect behind his Moose teammates who poured on four goals against the Heat. The Moose win 4-0 to improve to 2-0-0-1 through three games in Abbotsford this season. Before returning home to host the Hershey Bears on Friday and Saturday, Manitoba takes on the Abbotsford Heat for the second of back-to-back games. Game time on Tuesday night is 9:00 pm CST. Brian Munz has all the action from Abbotsford live on CJOB 68. Hear it online at www.cjob.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 4, 2011


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