Rampage Prove Too Wild For Moose

Published on December 5, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


An early three-goal deficit proved to be too much for the Moose to overcome Friday night, as the club dropped a 4-3 decision to the Rampage in San Antonio. Mark Cullen, Michael Grabner and Jason Krog scored goals for Manitoba, while Jonathan Boutin blocked 34 of 38 shots in his Moose debut.

With Josh Tordjman backstopping the home net, San Antonio started strong at the opposite end of the ice by firing three shots on Jonathan Boutin before Manitoba registered their first attempt.

At 2:56 the Moose offered San Antonio the first powerplay of the game, thanks to a hooking call directed towards defenseman Nolan Baumgartner. Even though the home squad didn't capitalize on the man-advantage they put extra pressure on the rookie goaltender by leading 6-0 in the shot department.

Near the midway point of the game, the powerplay tables turned in favor of the Moose when David Schlemko was put away for high-sticking. Once the two minutes expired, Schlemko popped out of the box and escaped on a breakaway, beating Boutin and putting his team up by one at the twelve minute mark.

The Moose were catching up in shots with seven to the Rampage's nine, but the home team would be next to clinch a goal. With less than two-minutes left in the first, David Spina lifted the puck above Boutin to finish the inaugural period up by two.

The Moose and Rampage exchanged hooking penalties in the early half of the second, with Mario Bliznak and Joel Perrault both serving time. Neither team recorded a point on their respective powerplays but the Rampage almost doubled-up the Moose in shots, 17-10.

Five-on-five hockey paid off for the home team when the Rampage scored their third unanswered goal of the game, putting them up 3-0.

At 15:27 the Moose gained control of the play and carried the puck into the Rampage zone. With help from Zack FitzGerald and Michel Ouellet, Mark Cullen notched his tenth of the season to inch closer to the Rampage, 3-1.

Within minutes, the Moose did it again, this time courtesy of Michael Grabner. With a pass from Jason Krog, Grabner clipped the puck past Tordjman to put the game within a goal, 3-2.

The Moose provided instant action in the third period, when Jason Krog, hot off of an assist, went back door on Tordjman to tie the game at three.

San Antonio was blessed with their fourth man-advantage of the night allowing David Schlemko to regain the lead with a powerplay tally, 4-3.

Though six Moose skaters valiantly battled for the equalizer in the final two minutes, two late penalties to Manitoba along with lucky bounces kept the puck out of the net allowing the Rampage to finish on top of the Moose 4-3.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 5, 2008


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