By Travis Kondratuk
www.moosehockey.com
Anyone who was concerned about the status of Wade Flaherty after coming back from injury can now officially rest soundly, as the Moose goaltender earned his first shutout of the season in a 3-0 victory over the first place Rochester Americans. Jason Jaffray notched his 29th goal of the season and his seventh game-winner, while Jesse Schultz added two insurance markers including an empty-netter to seal it for the Moose. The victory extended the Moose winning streak to a season long seven games and secured their first win at the Blue Cross Arena in three tries this year.
>> Click here to see official scorer's sheet
First Period
Wade Flaherty gets the start in net for the Moose, while Craig Anderson gets his third straight start in three nights for Rochester.
Mike Keane took the first penalty of the game at 5:23 of the first, a 2:00 cross-checking minor, putting their first place penalty-kill to a true test as Keane is usually an integral part of that penalty-kill for the Moose.
Lee Goren took a hooking penalty with 0:08 left in Keane's penalty to put the Americans on an abbreviated 5-on-3 advantage.
The Moose were able to kill off both penalties without incident, as the game was still looking for it's first goal.
Jason Jaffray was more than willing to supply that goal as he broke up a pass at the Moose blue line and went in all alone on Rochester netminder Craig Anderson. The Moose leading goal scorer made no mistake as he fired home his 29th goal of the season, snapping a shot just inside the left post to give the Moose the 1-0 lead at 10:12 of the first period.
Then Wade Flaherty stepped up with some big saves, and had a little luck on his side as well. First Flaherty made a huge pad save on Janis Sprukts at the left side of the net, before Greg Jacina missed a sure goal as he had Flaherty down-and-out but couldn't pull the trigger on his shot. Then Dylan Hunter missed another sure goal as he just fired a shot wide of the open cage as he was checked to the ice in the Moose crease. Flaherty was sprawling on his belly but had no chance if Hunter had been able to hit the open net.
Jesse Schultz wristed home his 15th goal of the season and his 4th versus the Americans this year with just over a minute to play in the first period. Colby Genoway carried the puck across the Rochester blue line and then fed a nice cross-ice pass to Schultz who wristed the shot under the blocker of Craig Anderson on the short side. Flaherty drew the second assist on the goal to add to his impressive first period.
The Moose scored two goals on their six shots in the first while they killed off all three powerplays that the Americans had to take a 2-0 lead into the second period.
Second Period
Manitoba got its first powerplay of the hockey game with 0:42 gone in the second period as Martin Lojek took a holding penalty for the Americans.
The Moose didn't generate much on their first powerplay chance but didn't have to wait long for their second chance as Brandon Smith took a hooking penalty on Nathan Smith at 4:30 of the second period.
Once again the Moose couldn't get much going with the man-advantage as they could only mustre a few soft shots from the point on their powerplay chance.
Alex Edler took the first penalty of the second frame for the Moose, a holding call at the 9:44 mark.
Amerks winger Stefan Meyer crashed into Wade Flaherty as he tried to redirect the puck past the Moose goaltender. No penalty was called on the play even though Meyer looked to make no effort to avoid the contact with the Moose netminder. Flaherty was no worse for wear and sprung back to his feet after the collision.
Flaherty made another huge save as Greg Jacina was sprung on a partial breakaway. Flaherty missed on his poke-check attempt, but was still able to get his pad down in time to stone the Rochester forward as he tried to tuck the puck around the sprawling Moose tender.
Adam Keefe and Patrick Kaleta took coincidental unsportsmanlike conduct penalties to put the teams 4-on-4 for 2:00. Not much action with the open ice but once the penalties expired Kaleta raced into the Moose zone to chase down a loose puck. Adam Keefe followed the Rochester forward and plowed him from behind. Janis Sprukts came flying in to defend his team mate as a huge scrum ensued. Keefe was given the extra penalty for boarding on the play to give the Americans their fifth powerplay opportunity.
Flaherty made one last save in the period to keep the Moose lead at two goals, as he made a nice glove stop with just 0:17 left in the period.
The Moose slammed the door on every Rochester opportunity in the second period as they carry their two goal lead into the third period. Flaherty has been the main difference in the game stopping all 23 shots fired at him through two periods.
Third Period
Jason Jaffray fed a nice pass to Lee Goren to send him on a partial breakaway, but just as he was about to pull the trigger Greg Jacina hooked his arm, hauling Goren to the ice. Jacina was given a hooking penalty on the play.
Brad Moran just missed on the powerplay as the loose puck fell to him at the left side of the Rochester net. Craig Anderson just got his left pad down in time to stone the Moose forward and keep his team in the game.
The Amerks started to look like a team that was playing their third game in three nights as the Moose started to generate the better chances as the period wore on.
Craig Anderson left the Rochester goal with 1:35 to play to give the Americans the extra man.
Jesse Schultz sealed the deal for the Moose as he picked off a pass in the Moose zone, chipped the puck off the boards and then outraced the Amerks player to it, backhanding his 16th goal of the season into the empty net at 19:05.
Wade Flaherty held on for his first shutout of the season, extending the team's winning streak to a season long seven games.
The Amerks ran out of gas as they could only manage three shots on goal in the third period.
The victory pulls the Moose to within four points of the first place Americans and within a single point of the Hamilton Bulldogs for second place in the North Division standings.
Jason Jaffray notched his league-leading seventh game-winning goal of the season, with his first period goal.
The Moose now head to Toronto to take on the Marlies for their third game of their six-game road trip. The game will be televised on Rogers Sportsnet at 6:30PM CDT.
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| SCORING |
1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
| Manitoba |
2 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
| Rochester |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Feb 18, 2007 - Blue Cross Arena FIRST PERIOD:1. Manitoba, J. Jaffray (29) 10:12 2. Manitoba, J. Schultz (15) (C. Genoway, W. Flaherty) 18:57 Penalties - M. Keane Mtb (cross-checking) 5:23, L. Goren Mtb (hooking) 7:15, A. Edler Mtb (tripping) 14:58 SECOND PERIOD:No Scoring Penalties - M. Lojek Rch (holding) 0:42, B. Smith Rch (hooking) 4:30, A. Edler Mtb (holding) 9:44, A. Keefe Mtb (unsportsmanlike conduct) 14:44, P. Kaleta Rch (unsportsmanlike conduct) 14:44, A. Keefe Mtb (boarding, roughing) 16:53, J. Sprukts Rch (roughing) 16:53 THIRD PERIOD:3. Manitoba, J. Schultz (16) (N. Smith) 19:05 EN Penalties - G. Jacina Rch (hooking) 5:54
| SHOTS |
1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
| Manitoba |
6 |
13 |
9 |
28 |
| Rochester |
12 |
11 |
5 |
28 |
POWER PLAYS:Manitoba Moose 0-3. Rochester Americans 0-5. GOALTENDERS:Manitoba Moose Flaherty 17-9-2 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 60:00 SV: 28 GA: 0 [W] Rochester Americans Anderson 23-10-1 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 59:22 SV: 25 GA: 2 [L]
Attendance:
7378
- MTB - #33 Wade Flaherty
- MTB - #15 Jason Jaffray
- MTB - #22 Jesse Schultz
- The Moose head to Toronto to take on the Marlies Wednesday, February 21st, the game wil be televised on Rogers Sportsnet at 6:30PM CDT.
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Updated: Feb. 18, 2007 at 7:36 PM CST
