By Travis Kondratuk
www.moosehockey.com
Drew MacIntyre came up big against his former squad in relief of an injured Wade Flaherty, earning his 19th win of the season along the way. Jesse Schultz scored the game-winner in the eighth round of the shootout to extend the team's winning streak to six games and improve their record to 37-17-7-4. The Moose improved their record to 3-1-0-1 against Grand Rapids this season and will play their North Division rivals once again tomorrow night at the Van Andel Arena in the second of back-to-back games versus the Griffins.
>> Click to view photos of tonight's game.
>> Click here to see official scorer's sheet
First Period
Wade Flaherty gets the start for the Moose and Jimmy Howard for the Griffins.
Flaherty's night came to an end early as he made a nice sliding save on a Griffins 3-on-2. Kip Miller carried the puck across the Moose blueline and tried to feed a pass across to Matt Hussey but the puck deflected off his face and right on net where Flaherty made the save. Unfortunately the back-checking Moose defenceman clipped Flaherty's leg and ran it into the post. The Moose goalie stayed down on the ice in obvious pain, and needed to be helped off the ice by his team-mates. Drew MacIntyre came in to replace Flats at 1:26 of the first period.
The Moose earned the first powerplay chance of the night as Brad Norton was called for holding at the 2:25 mark of the first. Manitoba couldn't find the back of the net as the Griffins killed off the penalty successfully.
The Griffins took the early lead when Jon Insana scored his first goal of the season for the Griffins. Insana stepped over the Moose blueline and blasted a shot that handcuffed MacIntyre after it appeared to be deflected by the stick of Nathan McIver. Tony Voce drew the lone assist on the initial goal of the game at 4:50 of the first period.
Lee Goren took the first penalty of the game for the Moose when he was called for cross-checking at 6:16 of the period. The Moose were able to kill the penalty off without incident, not allowing a shot on goal with the man-advantage.
The Moose got their second powerplay opportunity of the game when Jonathan Ericsson sent to the box for the holding the stick at 10:33. The Moose weren't able to manufacture the game-tying goal as they were stymied by the Griffins again.
Lee Goren took his second penalty of the period as he was nabbed for boarding at 16:06 to put the Griffins back on the powerplay. The Moose penalty-kill stepped up once again as they were able to kill off the Griffins man-advantage.
The Moose peppered Jimmy Howard with 15 shots in the first period but weren't able to solve the Griffins' netminder as he staked the home squad to a 1-0 lead after one period of play.
Second Period
The Moose will have to battle the odds in their effort to make a comeback as the Moose hold a record of 8-10-3-1 when they trail after 20:00, while the Griffins are 18-5-0-0 when they lead after one period of play this season.
Brad Norton took the first penalty of the period again as he was called for interference at 3:10 of the second. The Moose could not capitalize with the man-adantage however as the Griffins killed off the penalty.
A scrum developed to the right of the Moose net where Mike Brown and former team-mate Adam Keefe decided to drop the gloves behind the Moose net. This one, highly anticipated by many, started fast and ended fast as it resembled a tasmanian devil dust cloud - lots of fast fists and hair poking out. Both players landed a few punches and then fell to the ice as they lost their balance. Mike Brown gave Keefe a friendly pat afterwards. At the same time in what was certainly a strange turn of events J.J. Hunter squared off with Tony Voce at the far boards. Hunter, one of the nicest players you'll ever meet, got the upperhand on Voce as he stood over the Griffins winger when the linesmen stepped in to break it up. All four players were given 5:00 fighting majors on the play at 11:12 of the second.
Tom Galvin was called for holding at 16:39 of the period to give the Moose their fourth man-advantage of the game. Despite dominating in the shots department, the Moose still could not solve Jimmy Howard as the period came to an end with the Griffins holding onto their 1-0 lead. The Moose lead 24-13 in shots but are 0-for-4 on the powerplay.
Third Period
Roughing penalties to the Griffins Dan Smith and Dustin Wood of the Moose at the 20:00 mark of the second period have the teams starting the third 4-on-4.
The Moose tied the game as Brad Moran got his 22nd goal of the season with a beautiful deflection. Dustin Wood let a slapshot go from the point and Moran who was standing high in the slot redirected the puck up-and-over the shoulder of Jimmy Howard who had no chance on the play. Maxime Fortunus drew the second assist on the game-tying goal at 3:35 of the third.
The Moose battled back to take the lead for the first time in the game when Yannick Tremblay blasted a one-timer past Jimmy Howard from a tough angle at the 4:45 mark of the period. Jason Jaffray who was set up behind the Griffins' net fed a nice pass out to Tremblay deep in the corner. Tremblay's slapper blew past Howard to give the Moose the lead. Brad Moran had the second assist on the go-ahead goal.
The Griffins didn't wait long to respond as they broke in on a 3-on-2 at the 6:50 mark. Evan McGrath fed a nice cross-ice pass to Tony Voce who beat MacIntyre high to the glove side as he tried to slide across to make the save.
With the Moose on a powerplay, Yannick Tremblay blew a tire at the Griffins blueline which allowed Matt Hussey to break in all alone shorthanded. Hussey came off the left-wing boards and tried to get MacIntyre going the wrong way, but the Moose netminder kept his right pad firmly on the ice to stone the Griffins winger and keep the game tied at two.
The Moose were unable to capitalize on the remainder of the penalty to the Griffins' Cleve Kinley.
Nathan McIver saved a sure goal as he swept the puck off the goal-line as the puck had squeaked past Drew MacIntyre with 5:00 to go in the period.
Dan Smith took an interference penalty just seconds later to give the Moose a glorious opportunity to re-take the lead on the powerplay. Nathan Smith had the best chance with the man-advantage as he had Jimmy Howard down-and-out at the right side of the Griffins' net, but Smith could not lift the puck over the sprawling netminder. The penalty expired leaving the Moose 0-for-6 on the powerplay for the night.
Brad Norton took a late boarding penalty, his third penalty of the game, to give the Moose another chance to put the game away late. The Moose could not score before regulation expired leaving the Moose with 1:27 left in the powerplay to start overtime.
Overtime
Lee Goren almost ended it for the Moose as he fired a one-timer on goal but Jimmy Howard was able to squeeze his pads together to keep the puck out. The Moose failed to score with the man-advantage leaving them 0-for-7 in the game.
Neither team could find the back of the net as, the game would need a shootout to decide a winner. The last time the Moose played at the Van Andel Arena the Moose lost 5-4 in a shootout to the Griffins.
Shootout
1)MTB - Mike Keane - was first to shoot for the Moose, he took a slapper from the slot that Howard stopped.
Saved
1)GRA - Matt Hussey - deked to MacIntyre's left with a forehand-to-backhand move but D-Mac was able to get his pad down to make a terrific toe save.
Saved
2)MTB - Colby Genoway - made a beautiful toe-drag move and tucked the puck past howard as he fell backwards.
Scored
2)GRA - Jeff Campbell - lost the handle on the puck as he tried to shoot.
Saved
3)MTB - Jesse Schultz - tried to shoot five-hole on Howard but the Griffins' tender got his pads together to make the save.
Saved
3)GRA - Evan McGrath - was the third shooter for the Griffins, he also lost the handle on the puck as he tried the deke on MacIntyre.
Saved
4)MTB - Jason Jaffray - had the puck bounce on him early and was forced to a bad angle by Howard who made the easy save.
Saved
4)GRA - Jonathan Ericsson - deked to MacIntyre's right but the Moose goalie made a nice sprawling pad save.
Saved
5)MTB - Lee Goren - fired a shot to the stick side of Howard, but just missed the net as he had a chance to win it for the Moose.
Saved
5)GRA - Kip Miller - Had to score to keep the shootout alive. Miller got MacIntyre leaning to his left and lifted a shot over his blocker to keep the shootout alive.
Scored
The teams were tied at one goal apiece after five shooters, sending the shootout into sudden death.
1)MTB - Mike Keane - tried to go backhand, but Howard made a nice save with his right pad.
Saved
1)GRA - Evan McGrath - the Griffins decided to change up their order, and let McGrath shoot first. He tried to shoot low to the left of MacIntyre, but the Moose tender made a nice kick-save with his pad.
Saved
2)MTB - Colby Genoway - deked to Howard's left and had him beat, but just missed on the goal with his shot.
Saved
2)GRA - Kip Miller - went to MacIntyre's left but the Moose goalie stayed with him and made a gorgeous glove save to keep the Moose in it.
Saved
3)MTB - Jesse Schultz - came in fast on Howard and roofed a shot over the glove of the Griffins netminder to give the Moose the 2-1 lead.
Scored
3)GRA - Matt Hussey - fired a shot that MacIntyre made another beautiful glove save on to seal the victory for the Moose.
Saved
Drew MacIntyre and the Moose avenged the shootout defeat they suffered earlier in the season at the Van Andel Arena and improved their winning streak to six games. Manitoba improved their record to 37-17-7-4 on the season and maintained their four-point advantage on the Hamilton Bulldogs who won in overtime tonight.
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Global Highlights - Moose @ Griffins - stream
| SCORING |
1 |
2 |
3 |
OT |
SO |
T |
| Manitoba |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
| Grand Rapids |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
Mar 16, 2007 - Van Andel Arena FIRST PERIOD:1. Grand Rapids, J. Insana (1) (T. Voce) 4:50 Penalties - B. Norton Gra (holding) 2:25, L. Goren Mtb (cross-checking) 6:16, J. Ericsson Gra (holding the stick) 10:33, L. Goren Mtb (boarding) 16:06 SECOND PERIOD:No Scoring Penalties - B. Norton Gra (interference) 3:10, M. Brown Mtb (fighting) 11:12, J. Hunter Mtb (fighting) 11:12, A. Keefe Gra (fighting) 11:12, T. Voce Gra (fighting) 11:12, T. Galvin Gra (holding) 16:39, D. Wood Mtb (roughing) 20:00, D. Smith Gra (roughing) 20:00 THIRD PERIOD:2. Manitoba, B. Moran (22) (D. Wood, L. Goren) 3:35 3. Manitoba, Y. Tremblay (12) (J. Jaffray, B. Moran) 4:45 4. Grand Rapids, T. Voce (9) (E. McGrath) 6:57 Penalties - B. Moran Mtb (slashing) 7:34, C. Kinley Gra (hooking) 9:39, D. Smith Gra (interference) 15:02, B. Norton Gra (boarding) 19:27 OT PERIOD:No Scoring Penalties - No Penalties Shootout Round 1 -
| SHOTS |
1 |
2 |
3 |
OT |
SO |
T |
| Manitoba |
15 |
9 |
11 |
5 |
1 |
41 |
| Grand Rapids |
9 |
4 |
11 |
1 |
0 |
25 |
POWER PLAYS:Manitoba Moose 0-7. Grand Rapids Griffins 0-3. GOALTENDERS:Manitoba Moose Flaherty 17-9-2 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 1:26 SV: 1 GA: 0 MacIntyre 24-12-2 Start: 1st 1:26 Min: 63:34 SV: 22 GA: 2 [W] Grand Rapids Griffins Howard 21-21-3 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 65:00 SV: 38 GA: 2 [SOL]
Attendance:
10,834
- MTB- #20 Brad Moran
- GRA- #13 Tony Voce
- GRA- #33 Jimmy Howard
- The Moose stay in Grand Rapids to take on the Griffins one more time tomorrow night and then travel to Peoria on Sunday to finish their three-games-in-three-nights road trip
- Manitoba won't have long to rest as they play host to the Houston Aeros on Tuesday, March 20th and Wednesday, March 21st at the MTS Centre
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Updated: Mar. 16, 2007 at 9:25 PM CDT
