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MTS Centre hosts Calder Cup Playoffs tonight

April 25, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


With 15 total goals after two games, what was expected to be a high-scoring playoff series so far has not disappointed. The Manitoba Moose are currently tied in their North Division Semi-Final series with the St. John's Maple Leafs after a two-game split in Newfoundland. The series now shifts to MTS Centre beginning tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are still available for tonight's game.

Saturday, the Moose returned home from St. John's looking to rebound from Friday's lopsided defeat. CTV Winnipeg did a story shortly after the team arrived at Winnipeg International.

Turning Up the Heat a Notch: Friday's Game 2 of the North Division Semi-Final between the Manitoba Moose and St. John's Maple Leafs involved the most penalty minutes than any other game in Manitoba Moose playoff history. The Moose accumulated 85 minutes in penalties in Game 2. Their previous high was 62 penalty minutes back on May 5/01 in a 5-0 loss to the Chicago Wolves. The Maple Leafs compiled 63 minutes which means the two combined for 148 minutes in penalties – another Moose playoff record. The previous high for penalty minutes for two teams in one playoff game involving the Manitoba Moose was 131 minutes back on April 20/03 in a 1-0 loss to the Providence Bruins.

Game 3 History: The Manitoba Moose enter tonight's Game 3 of their best-of-seven North Division Semi-Final with a historical record of 1-2 in Game 3's of best-of-seven series. Overall, the Moose are 4-6 in Game 3's in their history with seven of those being games where the Moose could either clinch a series or faced elimination. However, the Moose are 3-2 in Game 3's in their American Hockey League history.

Flats' Streak Ends: With Friday's 6-1 defeat in St. John's, Wade Flaherty's streak of eight straight playoff wins dating back to the 2004 playoffs was snapped. The Terrace, BC native was named the MVP of the Calder Cup playoffs last year, winning 14 of the 16 starts he made in guiding the Milwaukee Admirals to the championship title. He won his last seven starts last year with Milwaukee and defeated St. John's on Wednesday.

Auld Awaiting First Start: If Alex Auld gets the nod in goal tonight for the Manitoba Moose, it would be his first career start in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Auld's only previous AHL postseason experience came in the 2002 playoffs when he played the final 20 minutes of a 5-0 defeat April 14, 2002 at Bridgeport, allowing no goals in relief of Alfie Michaud. Of course, Auld did start three games last season in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for Vancouver sporting a record of 1-2 with a 2.43 goals-against average and .898 save percentage.

Home Not So Sweet In Playoffs: Historically, the Moose have struggled on home ice in the postseason, particularly the first game of a series played on their home rink. Overall, the team has a home playoff record of six wins and 12 losses. When the Moose play their first home game of a playoff series, the team's record is two wins and eight losses. The only two times the Moose have won their first home game of a series was Game 3 April 18, 2002 vs. Bridgeport and Game 3 May 10, 2001 vs. Chicago.

Monday, Monday: Tonight marks only the second time in franchise history that the team has played a playoff game on a Monday. The only other time was May 5, 2003 when the Moose defeated the Hamilton Bulldogs 3-1 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Final.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 25, 2005


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