Official website of the Manitoba Moose (AHL)

Moose Battle Back for 4-3 Win

By Rob Carling
www.moosehockey.com

After giving up a 2-0 lead on three powerplay goals in a row the Moose faught back with quick goals from Rypien and Schultz to hold on for a 4-3 lead. Flaherty made 38 saves on 41 shots to preserve the Moose victory. Click for a full game recap.

>> Click for an updated scorer's sheet

Ryan Bayda made an early presence in his Moose debut as minutes into the game he streaked down the wing a ripped a shot in on Racine.

Note: Nathan Smith was helped to the dressing room after he took a hip-check from Marlies forward B. Engelhardt with about five minutes gone in the game. Smith was unable to put any weight on his right leg as he hobbled to the dressing room. No penalty was called on the play.

With just under seven minutes played the Marlies led the Moose in shots 6-3.

Toronto took the first penalty of the game as Mark Moro was called for a hold on Jesse Schultz at 10:59. Manitoba put their tenth place powerplay to work as they worked the puck in the Marlies zone with some good pressure. Ryan Bayda nullified a good Moose powerplay with 27 seconds left in the minor to Moro as he took a hooking penalty.

Nathan McIver sought redemption for the earlier hit by Engelhardt on Nathan Smith as the two went at it. Both players were assessed five minute majors in a quick fight without a clear winner.

A scoreless first period finished with the shots 9-8 in Manitoba's favour.

The Moose started the second period with their third powerplay of the game as Nathan McIver was sent off for hooking. A combination of the tenth place Moose powerplay and a couple quick stops from Wade Flaherty allowed Manitoba to kill Toronto's second powerplay of the game.

Minutes later Manitoba took the lead as Jozef Balej grabbed the puck after the initial Fortunus shot was blocked and snapped it passed Racine.

At 13:14 of the second Manitoba took their fourth powerplay of the game as K. Newbury took a boarding penalty. Racine robbed Maxime Fortunus of his second goal of the season as Fortunus took a nice pass from Balej in the corner and ripped a shot that Racine gloved beautifully. The Moose again failed to capitalize on the powerplay opportunity.

Craig Darby got his first goal in 12 games at 11:14 of the second as he took a pass in the slot from Jesse Schultz, made a nice deke and put a backhand shot underneath of Racine.

Flaherty came up big as Toronto put on heavy pressure with four minutes to play in the second period. Nathan McIver blocked two shots and Flaherty stopped three more to keep the puck out of the Manitoba goal.

Manitoba was short two men for just over 30 seconds at 17:52 of the second after Skinner was sent off for holding and Bieksa for roughing. Toronto put heavy pressure on the Moose as Bell made a pretty pass to Colaiacovo who put it passed Flaherty for a first Marlies goal.

Manitoba penalties allowed the Marlies to get right back in the game to finish the second as the Marlies record 14 shots in about eight minutes. After two the score remained 2-1 Manitoba and the Marlies led the shot count, 27-17.

James DeMone had a greta chance for his first goal of the year to start the third as he found himself open in front of the net but ripped a shot high and over the crossbar.

The Moose gave the Marlies their sixth powerplay of the game at 3:53 as Nathan McIver was sent off for holding. Again the Moose shot themselves in the foot as the Marlies were able to tie the game on the powerplay as Brad Leeb was able to put one passed Flaherty.

Flaherty had to be good to keep Manitoba tied with Toronto on another powerplay. Leeb came close to netting his second of the game but Flaherty slid across the ice to get a piece of the puck and direct it wide.

Manitoba was again two man short for 23 seconds as Bieksa was gated for high-sticking at 8:07. John Pohl netted Toronto's third powerplay goal of the game as the puck came loose to John Pohl at the side of the net who poked home his eighth of the year.

Toronto took their first penalty in just under 22 minutes at 7:03 as Engelhardt was sent off for interference. The Moose were finally able to put some pressure on Racine for the first time in the period as they controlled the Marlies zone. Just as the penalty expired Tomas Mojzis streaked down the ice and cut towards the goal, Rick Rypien got his fifth of the year as he re-directed the Mojzis attempt to tie the game.

Just over a minute later the Moose took the lead again on a weird goal as a mix-up by Marlie's goaltender Racine allowed Jesse Schultz to poke home the puck after the netminder thought he had the puck frozen.

With a minute left to play Toronto pulled Racine for the extra attacker but could not get a shot on net to tie the game as the Moose hold on for the 4-3 victory.

	1	2	3	TOTAL
Toronto	0	1	2	3
Manitoba	0	2	2	4

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring:
No Scoring

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring:
MTB - 3:38 N. Smith (6) M. Fortunus, C. Darby
MTB - 11:14 C. Darby (4) J. Schultz
TOR - 18:18 C. Colaiacovo (4) I. White, J. Williams PP

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring:
TOR - 4:32 B. Leeb (7) C. Colaiacovo, I. White PP
TOR - 8:35 J. Pohl (8) I. White, J. Williams PP
MTB - 15:03 R. Rypien (5) T. Mojzis PP
MTB - 16:17 J. Schultz (13)

PENALTIES:
1st TOR - M. Moro 2.00 Holding 10:59
1st MTB - J. Roy 2.00 Hooking 12:33
1st TOR - B. Engelhardt 5.00 Fighting 15:39
1st MTB - N. McIver 5.00 Fighting 15:39
1st TOR - K. Newbury 2.00 Slashing 17:22

2nd MTB - N. McIver 2.00 Hooking 1:02
2nd TOR - I. MacNeil 2.00 Holding 4:33
2nd TOR - K. Newbury 2.00 Boarding 6:46
2nd MTB - J. Jaffray 2.00 Hooking 13:29
2nd MTB - B. Skinner 2.00 Holding 16:25
2nd MTB - K. Bieksa 2.00 Roughing 17:52

3rd MTB - N. McIver 2.00 Holding 3:53
3rd MTB - J. Green 2.00 Interference 6:30
3rd MTB - K. Bieksa 2.00 High sticking 8:07
3rd TOR - B. Engelhardt 2.00 Interference 12:57

ATTENDANCE:
3502

SHOTS ON GOAL

	1	2	3	TOTAL
Toronto	8	19	13	40
Manitoba	9	8	9	26

POWER PLAY STATS
Toronto (3 for 8)
Manitoba (1 for 5)

GOALIES

HOME TEAM	S	SV	PCT (%)
Flaherty	40	37	92.5%
McVicar	0	0	00.0%

AWAY TEAM	S	SV	PCT (%)
Racine	26	22	84.6%
Aubin	0	0	00.0%

1. MTB - J. Schultz
2. TOR - I. White
3. MTB - C. Darby

What's Next

The Moose will continue their road trip this weekend by heading into Cleveland for back to back games on Saturday at 12:05pm and Sunday afternoon at 4:05pm. Listen to the games live on CJOB.