Stars Deal Moose First Shutout Loss Of 07-08

Published on November 30, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


DES MOINES, IA. -- More than tripling Manitoba's shot-count through 40-minutes of play, the Iowa Stars scored two goals in both the first and second periods en-route to trouncing the Moose 4-0 Friday night. Tobias Stephan earned the shutout for Iowa, while Manitoba's Drew MacIntyre registered his first loss in five games.

Manitoba's lone shot on goal was eclipsed by six on the Iowa side within the first eight minutes. Carrying the puck into the Moose zone on the left wing, Janos Vas took MacIntyre by surprise with the Stars' seventh shot, and Iowa took the first lead of the game.

With Nathan McIver in the penalty box for elbowing, Iowa extended their lead two minutes later thanks to a powerplay goal by blueliner Chris Lee. The goal would wrap first period scoring and put the Stars up 2-0 (14-5 in shots) heading into the second period.

The Moose and Stars traded powerplays in the early minutes of the second, but penalty killers and goaltenders ruled the play and kept the puck from crossing either goal line. Through to the midway point of the period, Iowa continued their offensive dominance, keeping the puck in the Moose zone and getting six shots through to MacIntyre. Though Manitoba managed to clear their zone near the 10-minute mark, a three-on-two rush in the opposite direction resulted in Lee's second of the game and a 3-0 lead for Iowa.

With just over two minutes left in the frame, Iowa broke the 30-shot mark, more than tripling Manitoba's 10-shot tally. As the seconds ticked down, Stars centerman Toby Petersen capitalized on a Moose line-change and beat MacIntyre on the breakaway to score Iowa's fourth unanswered goal in two periods of play.

Appearing between the pipes for the third consecutive game, Cory Schneider assumed Moose netminding duties at the onset of the third period. At the opposite end of the ice, stellar goaltending from Stephan kept the Moose off the scoreboard through the first four minutes of the period and their fifth powerplay of the game.

On the heels of Schneider's first save of the game, McIver and B.J. Crombeen allowed their emotions to get the best of them, going toe-to-toe near the Moose net and earning five minutes each for fighting.

Though the Moose posted two more shots than the Stars in the third period, a four-goal deficit combined with airtight goaltending from Stephan resulted in Manitoba's most-decisive loss and first shutout defeat of the season.

LOOKING AHEAD: The Moose continue their seven-game road trip and five-game West Division swing tomorrow night at Quad City.

NEXT GAME: SATURDAY, DEC. 1 (I WIRELESS CENTER - MOLINE, IL)

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American Hockey League Stories from November 30, 2007


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