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Moose Won't Back Down

May 9, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL) - Manitoba Moose News Release


The Manitoba Moose have not only been pushed to the brink during the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs, they're making a home there. Manitoba has faced elimination in four games and won each time. Their clutch play has led to a second Game 7 in this postseason. This one will decide the North Division Final against the Hamilton Bulldogs with the winner moving on to the Western Conference Final.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011: Manitoba 5, Hamilton 4 After losing both series opening games in Hamilton, the Moose returned home for Game 3 staring at a two-game deficit in the North Division Final. They answered with a five-goal outburst including power play goals by Sergei Shirokov and Marco Rosa. There were three lead changes in Game 3 but the Moose outscored the Bulldogs 5-4 led by a three-point night (1g, 2a) from Marco Rosa.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011: Manitoba 2, Hamilton 1 (2OT) The Moose and Bulldogs faced off in a marathon Game 4 where the winning goal was scored after 91:54 of play. Manitoba was only able to force overtime because of a goal by Guillaume Desbiens with 2:02 left in the third period. With the score tied 1-1, Mario Bliznak scored midway through the second overtime period to end Manitoba's second longest game in franchise history.

Friday, May 6, 2011: Manitoba 1, Hamilton 5 The Moose were in a hole early in Game 5 when Hamilton's Nigel Dawes finally tallied his first goal of the series. The Bulldogs sniper was silent through four games but scored twice in a lopsided 5-1 final. The game unraveled for the Moose at 12:26 of the third period when Hamilton's Ryan Russell scored his team's third goal by poking in a loose puck with goalie Eddie Lack wiped out of the net. Tempers flared afterwards resulting in ejections to a pair of Moose players.

Sunday, May 8, 2011: Manitoba 1, Hamilton 0 Down 3-2 in the North Division Final, Manitoba needed a win in Game 6 to stay alive in the playoffs. After an evenly played first period, the Moose took the lead on a shorthanded goal by Alexandre Bolduc. It was all the offence they needed in front of Eddie Lack who made 25 saves for his second shutout of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Moose Notes

SEVENTH AND DECIDING GAME: With a 1-0 win in Game 6, Manitoba is heading to Game 7 for the second time in the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs. The Moose won their North Division Semi-Final against the Lake Erie Monsters after a 4-1 win in Game 7. Prior to this season, the Moose have never played more than one Game 7 in the same Calder Cup Playoffs. Their record all-time in the seventh game of a Calder Cup series is 2-2. Meanwhile their current opponent, the Hamilton Bulldogs, are 2-3 all-time in Game 7's. The Moose and Bulldogs met in a Game 7 on May 11/03 with the Bulldogs winning 3-2.

LACK COOL UNDER PRESSURE: The Moose have faced elmination four times in the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs. In those four games, Eddie Lack has a perfect record of 4-0 with two shutouts, a 0.982 save percentage and 0.50 goals against average. His second shutout, recorded in Game 6 of the North Division Final, ties a Moose franchise record set by Wade Flaherty in the 2005 Calder Cup Playoffs. Lack's overall playoff record is 6-4 with a 0.926 save percentage and 2.12 goals against average.

FACING ELIMINATION: After coming up with a crucial Game 6 win in Hamilton on Sunday night, the Moose are facing elimination for fifth time in the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs. Manitoba came back from a 3-1 series deficit in the opening round North Division Semi-Final against Lake Erie, then won on Sunday night down 3-2 in the North Division Final against Hamilton. Their all-time record when facing elimination from the AHL playoffs is now 14-8. The Moose are trying to come back from a 3-2 series deficit for the third time in their AHL history.

Upcoming Opponent

Game 7 - Monday, May 9 @ Hamilton - 6:30 p.m. CT

Manitoba's future in the Calder Cup Playoffs will be decided tonight in Hamilton. With a win in Game 7, the Moose will go on to the Western Conference Finals and face either the Houston Aeros or Milwaukee Bulldogs who are in their own deciding game on Tuesday night.

Player of the Week Nominee

Eddie Lack

Rookie defenceman Chris Tanev recorded two points (1g & 1a) in a losing effort in Game 2 against Hamilton... Tanev led the Manitoba Moose with three points (1g & 2a) over the past three Calder Cup Playoff games... Through back to back losses against the Hamilton Bulldogs, Tanev was one of two Moose defencemen with a plus rating...

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American Hockey League Stories from May 9, 2011


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