Rally Cry

Published on May 3, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


The Manitoba Moose headed into the North Division Final on the heels of a momentum building Game 7 win in Lake Erie. But the Hamilton Bulldogs decisively snapped Manitoba's three-game win streak with a 4-1 final in Game 1. Manitoba then lost Game 2 in Hamilton leading to their second two-game series deficit of the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011: Manitoba 4, Lake Erie 1 The Moose faced elimination in two straight games and won both setting up a series deciding Game 7 matchup on April 26th. The Monsters peppered Eddie Lack with 15 shots in the first period, scoring once, but Lack's solid play kept the Moose in the game long enough for the offence to respond. Manitoba's Sergei Shirokov tied the game up in the second, then goals by Alexandre Bolduc and Keith Seabrook midway through the third period put the game and the series out of reach for the Monsters.

Thursday, April 28, 2011: Manitoba 1, Hamilton 4 The box score doesn't lie when it comes to what went wrong in Game 1. The Bulldogs had 10 power plays, which translates into a mistake-laden performance by the visiting Moose. Hamilton scored twice on the man advantage and once while shorthanded. Manitoba's only goal was a solo effort by Alexandre Bolduc that opened the scoring in the game. That lead lasted 4:17, then it was all Bulldogs as they compiled 37 shots on Moose goalie Eddie Lack.

Sunday, May 1, 2011: Manitoba 2, Hamilton 4 The Moose needed to play a far more disciplined game in order to even up the series. While Manitoba made only three trips to the penalty box, the Bulldogs were still able to capitalize on one of their few chances. Hamilton's offence often leans on their top line but their depth players were the difference in Game 2 with two goals by Gabriel Dumont and the game winner by Ryan Russell.

Moose Notes

DOWN BY TWO: The Moose return to MTS Centre for Game 3 after losing the first two games of the North Division Final in Hamilton. They were in the same situation in last year's Calder Cup Playoffs when they trailed the Bulldogs 2-0 in their North Division Semi-Final series. The Moose went on to win Game 3 at home by a 7-2 score. In their history, the Moose have a record of 4-1 in Game 3 when trailing in a series 2-0. Manitoba has won a playoff series just once after losing Games 1 & 2. They came back against the Syracuse Crunch in 2006, winning their opening round series against Syracuse in six games.

LOCAL IMPACT: Winnipeg born Moose forward Kevin Clark was inserted into the lineup in Game 4 of the first round against Lake Erie and scored twice in his first game. The diminutive winger scored his third goal of the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs when he opened the scoring early on in Game 2. Clark, who has been playing alongside fellow rookies Jordan Schroeder and Bill Sweatt, now has five points (3g, 2a) in six playoff games.

FIRST STRIKE: Manitoba has scored first in both games against Hamilton during this postseason. Despite the favourable starts, the Moose still find themselves trailing 2-0 in the North Division Final. When scoring first during the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs, the Moose have a record of 2-3. The Moose found the scoresheet first in 39 of 80 games during the regular season and finished with a record of 29-5-1-4 when they scored first.

Upcoming Opponent

Game three vs. Hamilton - May 3 - 7:30 p.m. Game four vs. Hamilton - May 4 - 7:30 p.m. *Game five vs. Hamilton - May 6 - 7:30 p.m. *Game six @ Hamilton - May 8 - 6:30 p.m. *Game seven @ Hamilton - May 9 - 6:30 p.m. * - if necessary

The Moose will now host the Bulldogs in Games 3 & 4 on Tuesday, May 3rd & Wednesday, May 4th. If Manitoba can win one of the next two games they will also host Hamilton on Friday, May 6th in Game 5.

Player of the Week Nominee

Chris Tanev

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 3, 2011


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