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January 25, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manitoba Moose News Release


Winnipeg has a reputation for cold weather and winter blues, but the Moose have been red hot at home during the past two months. In 16 home games since the beginning of December, Manitoba has a record of 11-3-1-1. Just last week the Moose won three of four games while hosting North Division rivals from Toronto and Abbotsford. Currently the Moose sit one point out of first in the division with their next game against the team they're chasing, the Hamilton Bulldogs.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011: Manitoba 4, Toronto 1 Something about the home crowd tends to spark hometown forward Kevin Clark. The feisty winger assisted on Manitoba's first two goals then rattled home his sixth goal, and fifth at MTS Centre this season, giving the Moose a 3-0 lead early in the second period. It was a hole the Marlies couldn't crawl out of as Moose goalie Tyler Weiman stopped 29 of 30 shots on the night in a 4-1 win.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011: Manitoba 5, Toronto 2 The Marlies opened the scoring early in the rematch but a couple goals by Moose newcomers put the home team up for good. Dusty Collins and Ryan Cruthers, both recently added to Manitoba's roster, potted their first goals of the season before Bill Sweatt scored a pair of his own. Four straight goals then eventually an empty netter by Shawn Weller, his second in as many nights, sealed Toronto's fate in the 5-2 Moose victory.

Friday, January 21, 2011: Manitoba 2, Abbotsford 3 (SO) Jordan Schroeder made a rather triumphant return to Manitoba's lineup after missing 16 games with a lower body injury. He scored early in the first period and eventually led all Moose skaters in ice time. Both teams battled through 65 minutes of regulation and headed to the shootout round tied at 2-2. Heat goalie Leland Irving duelled Manitoba's Eddie Lack and stopped all but one Moose attempt in the shootout giving Abbotsford the 3-2 win.

Sunday, January 23, 2011: Manitoba 5, Abbotsford 3 A noon start on Sunday is hardly prime time for a hockey game but Moose fans packed MTS Centre regardless. Even if many of the 8,509 came for a Nolan Baumgartner bobblehead, the Moose and Heat delivered a barn burner they won't soon forget. The North Division rivals traded leads and more than a few hits. Moose forward Guillaume Desbiens snapped a 14-game goal drought with a pair, including the game winner in Manitoba's 5-3 win.

Moose Notes

WHAT'S UP, WEIMAN: Goalie Tyler Weiman didn't see much action in December but this month he's proving to be far more than a fill-in. The former AHL All-Star didn't have a start in goal between Dec. 11 and Jan. 3, but recorded a shutout in his first game back in Abbotsford and won his next five starts after that. In his last six games, he has a 1.68 goals against average and a save percentage of 0.931.

FIRST TIME CONTRIBUTORS: In recent weeks, injuries and recalls have forced the Moose to add a few new faces. And even an old one returned as the team welcomed Dusty Collins back for the first time since 2009-10. Ryan Cruthers scored his first AHL goal on Tuesday vs. the Marlies and Collins scored his first goal of the season in the same game. Andy Brandt, who signed with the team last week, assisted on Collins goal for his first AHL point.

KILLER P.K.: The Manitoba Moose have endured separate four game losing streaks and replied with a six game win streak. But through it all one constant on the Moose has been their penalty kill. As of Jan. 19, the Moose have the top ranked penalty kill unit in the AHL currently at 86.5%. Manitoba's PK hasn't allowed more than two power play goals in a game this season. On Jan. 19, Bill Sweatt scored the game winning goal against the Marlies while shorthanded.

Upcoming Opponents

@ Bulldogs - Jan. 26 - 9:30 a.m. @ Americans - Jan. 28 - 6:35 p.m. @ Marlies - Jan. 29 - 2:00 p.m.

The Moose finished the week one point back of the Hamilton Bulldogs for first place in the North Division. Fittingly, the Moose will take on the Bulldogs next when they travel to Hamilton for an early morning game on Wednesday. That begins Manitoba's seven game road trip that will then take them to Rochester, Toronto, Hershey, and Wilkes-Barre Scranton.

Player of the Week Nominee

Bill Sweatt

Manitoba's rookie Bill Sweatt recorded three goals in two wins vs. Toronto last week including a shorthanded game winner on Jan. 19... He finished with an even or plus rating in the last four games... Sweatt is now sixth among AHL rookie scorers this season (11g, 18a)...

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American Hockey League Stories from January 25, 2011


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