Mike Brown was awarded a penalty shot at 3:14 of the first after being hauled down on a shorthanded breakaway. Brown deked right and snuck it through the five-hole on the ensuing shot to give the Moose a 1-0 lead.
With nine minutes played in the first the shots were tied 5-5.
The Moose enjoyed their powerplay of the game after San Antonio was nabbed for too man men at 10:18. Midway through the ensuing powerplay Ryan Bayda took a minor for interference, negating the Moose powerplay.
Neither team was able to mount a real scoring opportunity for the rest of the period as time expired with the score 1-0 and the shots at 11-6 for the Moose.
The Moose just about gave up an equalizer to start the second after a turnover in front, Rampage forward Jakub Koreis rang a shot off the right post.
Midway through the second the Moose led the shot count 14-10.
The Rampage took the first penalty of the second period at 13:24 after Randall Gelech was called for hooking. On the powerplay the Moose worked the puck around to Butenschon who wired a slapshot that hit LeNeveu and just about crossed the goal line before the net was knocked off. The game remained 1-0 as the penalty to Gelech expired.
Action heated up to finish the second period as Jimmy Roy and Martin Sonnenberg were both assessed minor penalties after some pushing and shoving. Jaffray and Jones were also given roughing minors after they both dropped the gloves but the linesmen jumped in preventing the fight.
A scoreless second period expired with the Moose continuing to lead 1-0 and the shots 19-12 for Manitoba.
Rampage forward Mike Bishai came within inches of tying the game up to start the third as he deflected a pass just wide of the right post, streaking towards the net.
With 9:18 to play in the third the shots were 25-17 for the Moose.
Note: Rick Rypien was shaken up and left the game after being struck in the facial area with the puck .
Flaherty came up with three big saves to maintain the lead with two minutes left in regulation as the Rampage pressured the Moose looking to tie the game.
The Rampage pulled their goalie with just over a minute to play as they controlled the puck in the Moose zone. Wade Flaherty again came up big making two more crucial saves in the closing seconds, preserving the shutout win.
1
2
3
TOTAL
San Antonio
0
0
0
0
Manitoba
1
0
0
1
First Period
1. Manitoba, Brown 5 3:14 Pen. Shot Penalties:
Burrows, Man (Hooking) 2:15; Bench Minor, San (Too Many Men) 10:18; Bayda, Man (Goaltender Interference) 11:21; Schultz, San (Hooking) 12:21; Jones, San (Hooking) 15:30; Bayda, Man (Goaltender Interference) 16:00;
Second Period
No Scoring
Penalties: Gelech, San (Hooking) 13:34; Bieksa, Man (Hooking) 15:57; Jaffray, Man (Roughing) 19:23; Jones, San (Roughing) 19:23; Roy, Man (Roughing) 19:23; Sonnenberg, San (Roughing) 19:23;
Third Period
No Scoring
Penalties: Jackman, San (Hooking) 1:20;
Attendance:
7688
SHOTS ON GOAL
1
2
3
TOTAL
San Antonio
6
6
12
24
Manitoba
11
8
11
29
POWER PLAY STATS
San Antonio (0 for 4)
Manitoba (0 for 5)
GOALIES
HOME TEAM
S
SV
PCT (%)
Flaherty
24
24
100.0%
Centomo
0
0
00.0%
AWAY TEAM
S
SV
PCT (%)
LeNeveu
29
28
96.5%
Stirling
0
0
00.0%
1. MTB - W. Flaherty 2. MTB - M. Brown 3. SAN - D. LeNeveu
The Moose will have 11 days rest for the Christmas holiday before returning home for back to back games with the Toronto Marlies. Great seats are still available or listen to the game live on CJOB.
