Stars Out-Shine Moose 4-1

February 13, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


WINNIPEG, MB. - Though Jannik Hansen scored the first goal of the game to give the Moose an early 1-0 lead, the Iowa Stars answered with four to secure a 4-1 victory Wednesday night. The loss was Manitoba's first at home vs. Iowa in six all-time games played between both clubs over the past three seasons.

Iowa fired the first few shots of the game on Moose netminder Cory Schneider, but Manitoba was the first to make one count. Just over four minutes into the game, the Moose descended into the Stars zone, and though Tobias Stephan stopped Brad Moran's initial shot, the puck made its way onto Jannik Hansen's tape, who snapped it into the net to put the Moose up 1-0.

1:34 after the goal, tough-guys Zack FitzGerald and B.J. Crombeen tangled in the neutral zone. Moments after play resumed, Mike Brown and Richard Clune met for a do-over of Tuesday night's scrap, putting four players in the penalty boxes through the midway point of the opening period.

Iowa's Marty Sertich soon made it five, and his hooking penalty gave Manitoba the game's first man-advantage. But the Moose couldn't increase their lead on the powerplay, and the Stars took advantage when the odds tipped in their favour. With Jimmy Sharrow serving a holding penalty, Iowa's leading scorer, Toby Petersen, did what he does best by beating Schneider with a powerplay marker to tie the game at one.

A tripping penalty to Moose rookie Pierre-Cedric Labrie helped the Stars regain the shot-lead and eventually take their first lead of the game. On the visitors' 15th shot of the game and eighth of the second period, Dan Jancevski pounced on a rebound and redirected it past Schneider to put the Stars up 2-1.

Despite taking a penalty of their own near the 12-minute mark, Iowa's special teams continued to contribute. On a shorthanded two-on-one, Konstantin Pushkarev and Janos Vas teamed up for a pretty play that fooled Schneider and gave the Stars a two-goal cushion.

Manitoba started the third period on their third powerplay but were once again stifled by Stephan on the man-advantage. A fourth powerplay in the other direction edged the Stars closer to the 30-shot mark, but Schneider stood his ground and kept his club within two.

In the last three minutes, a final Moose powerplay encouraged the home team to pull Schneider for a six-on-four advantage. Though Manitoba kept the puck in the Iowa zone for most of the powerplay, the Stars cleared a handful of times -- including once straight into the open net -- to secure a 4-1 visitors victory Wednesday night.

LOOKING AHEAD: The Moose trade jerseys for suit jackets for the Manitoba Moose Yearling Foundation Gala Dinner Thursday evening. The club then heads back on the MTS Centre ice Saturday night and Sunday afternoon to take on the Toronto Marlies.

NEXT GAME: SATURDAY, FEB. 16 (MTS CENTRE - WINNIPEG, MB.)



American Hockey League Stories from February 13, 2008


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