Wade Flaherty stopped all 30 shots he faced, including 17 in the third period to lead the Manitoba Moose to a 4-0 shutout victory over the Cleveland Barons Monday night.

It didn't take Manitoba long to shake off the rust from a nine-day Christmas break as Jeff Heerema rifled a shot past Cleveland netminder Nolan Schaefer 19 seconds in.

Throughout the first period, the Moose took the play to Cleveland, outshooting them 12-4 and holding a large territorial advantage.

Alexandre Burrows made it 2-0 for the visitors just past the eight-minute mark of the opening period with his fourth goal of the season. Nathan Smith got the lone assist.

The Moose managed to kill off both first-period penalties with ease. Nathan Smith was ticketed for elbowing at the 11:04 mark and Jeff Heerema was sent off for interference with just over a minute to play in the opening frame.

The Barons came out in the second period looking to rectify a lacklustre opening period but the hosts ran into some penalty trouble.

Successive penalties to Josh Prudden, Garrett Stafford and Jim Fahey gave the Moose the man advantage for the majority of the first 11 minutes of the second but they were unable to capitalize on their chances.

However, with 7:26 to play in the second with Matt Carkner already in the box serving a high sticking minor, Ryane Clowe got five minutes for elbowing Peter Sarno plus two for unsportsmanlike and a game misconduct.

Ryan Kesler made it 3-0 during the five-on-three powerplay that ensued following the infraction and Jason King potted his 17th of the year just as the seven-minute powerplay was expiring.

Shots after two periods were 29-13 for Manitoba as they were in full control of the game with a 4-0 lead.

In the third, Cleveland rallied but Wade Flaherty took over. At one point, shots were 10-2 in the period but the veteran goaltender was able to preserve the shutout victory.

Shots in the third were 17-4 overall, and 33-30 for Manitoba in the entire game.

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NOTES: Johnathan Aitken was a healthy scratch as a veteran, meaning Jimmy Roy drew into the lineup... Wade Brookbank played defence for the first time this season...