By Travis Kondratuk
www.moosehockey.com
Manitobas eight game winning streak and nine-game home winning streak both came to an end as the Moose ran into a hot goaltender and some bad luck against the Houston Aeros at the MTS Centre. Despite firing a season-high 45 shots on goal the Moose could only get one puck past Aeros netminder Dieter Kochan, who was the first star of the game for the visitors. Manitoba will get their chance for redemption tomorrow night as they face the Aeros in the second of back-to-back contests at the MTS Centre at 7:30PM.
>> Click to view photos of tonight's game.
>> Click here to see official scorer's sheet
First Period
Drew MacIntyre gets the start between the pipes for the Moose this evening, his third versus the Aeros this year, while Dieter Kochan will make his first start of the season versus the Moose tonight.
Jason Morgan took the first penalty of the game for the visiting Aeros as he was called for interference at 2:56.
The Moose powerplay didn't last long however as Yannick Tremblay was called for an interference penalty of his own to put the teams 4-on-4.
The Moose almost got a home-side bounce as they dumped the puck into the Houston zone, but the puck deflected off the leg of referee Francois St. Laurent and right towards the near post. Aeros goalie Dieter Kochan was surprised but managed to pounce on the loose puck at the side of the goal.
As the penalty to Jason Morgan expired the Aeros were able to capitalize on their abbreviated powerplay when defenceman Erik Reitz fired a slapper from the point that found a hole under Drew MacIntyre's arm, a goal the Moose goaltender would probably like to have back. Mattias Weinhandl and Shawn Belle drew the assists on the powerplay marker for the visitors at 5:32.
With Ryan Stokes in the box for tripping the Moose had a great powerplay in the Aeros zone. Manitoba controlled the puck for almost the entire 2:00 and had Houston running all over the place, but they could not get a puck past Dieter Kochan.
Maxime Fortunus took a late holding penalty, giving the Aeros a shortened powerplay advantage to start the second period.
The first period ended with the Moose leading 13-6 in shots but trailing 1-0 on the scoreboard.
Second Period
The Houston Aeros took a 2-0 lead over the hometown Moose at the 8:23 mark of the second. Bryan Lundbohm turned deep in the corner of the Moose zone and looked to be just passing the puck out front, but the bad angle shot went right under the pad of Drew MacIntyre for the second goal of the game.
That second goal really seemed to light a fire under the Moose as they started to turn up the pressure. Shawn Belle took a high-sticking penalty as he got his stick up on Jason Jaffray to put the Moose on the powerplay.
Manitoba dominated for the 2:00 throwing everything but the kitchen sink at the Houston goal but could not beat Kochan in the Aeros net.
Manitoba wouldn't have to wait long for another kick-at-the-can as Houston goalie Dieter Kochan clipped Mike Keane with his stick as he was skating back into his crease. The Moose came ever-so-close once again on a few occasions but could not find the back of the net.
With the Moose shorthanded, Lee Goren had a glorious chance to get the Moose on the board shorthanded. Goren was sent in all alone from centre ice and made a nice move to his backhand but Dieter Kochan made a better save as he was able to get his blocker on the puck to stone the Moose forward.
Manitoba got another powerplay chance before the second period came to an end when Roman Voloshenko was called for tripping at 18:01. Once again the Moose peppered Dieter Kochan, but the Saskatoon, SK native looked razor sharp as he continued to stone the Moose.
The second period came to an end with Manitoba dominating in shots 30-12 but they could not find a way to beat Kochan in the Houston net.
Third Period
The Aeros took a stranglehold on the game as they scored an early goal to go up by three. Bryan Lundbohm fired a puck on net from the right-hand boards that Drew MacIntyre made the pad save on, but as he directed the puck to the corner it bounced off the leg of Benoit Pouliot and into the net.
After missing on so many close calls the Moose finally got a lucky break around the Aeros goal. Jannik Hansen carried the puck down the left-wing boards and backhanded the puck out into the crease, where Aeros defenceman Ryan Stokes tried to get his stick on the puck. Unfortunately for him he did, as a puck that was going to cruise harmlessly through the crease was directed into the far corner by his stick. Hansen got the goal and Nathan Smith was given the lone assist on the play at 8:41 of the third.
With Manitoba on the powerplay Jason Jaffray was called for tripping to end the man-advantage and then just seconds later Erik Reitz was called for his own tripping penalty leaving the teams 4-on-4 once again.
Jesse Schultz missed a golden opportunity to get the Moose within a goal as a shot bounced hard off the boards right to him at the right post, but last year's leading goal-scorer for the Moose fired the shot right into Kochan's chest.
The Moose called their timeout with 1:34 to go to try and figure out a way to solve Dieter Kochan. Despite firing a season high 45 shots on goal Manitoba could only get the one goal past the Aeros netminder as the Moose winning streak would come to an end at eight games.
The loss also ended Manitoba's franchise high, nine-game home winning streak at the MTS Centre.
Moose scratches: Dov Grumet-Morris, Wade Flaherty, Prestin Ryan, Mason Raymond, Brendan Brooks, Tyler Bouck
Aeros scratches: Ryan Hamilton, Curtis Murphy, Josh Olsen, Clayton Stoner
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Global Highlights - Moose vs. Aeros - stream
| SCORING |
1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
| Houston |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
| Manitoba |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
Mar 20, 2007 - MTS Centre FIRST PERIOD:1. Houston, E. Reitz (6) (M. Weinhandl, S. Belle) 5:32 PP Penalties - J. Morgan Hou (interference) 2:56, Y. Tremblay Mtb (interference) 3:52, B. Pouliot Hou (hooking) 6:59, R. Stokes Hou (tripping) 15:24, M. Fortunus Mtb (holding) 19:24 SECOND PERIOD:2. Houston, B. Lundbohm (7) (M. Foy, B. Pouliot) 8:23 Penalties - S. Belle Hou (high-sticking) 10:12, D. Kochan Hou (high-sticking) 13:00, J. Schultz Mtb (hooking) 15:27, R. Voloshenko Hou (tripping) 18:01 THIRD PERIOD:3. Houston, B. Pouliot (19) (B. Lundbohm, M. Foy) 2:48 4. Manitoba, J. Hansen (10) (N. Smith) 8:41 Penalties - P. Coulombe Mtb (tripping) 4:34, P. Olvecky Hou (interference) 15:35, J. Jaffray Mtb (tripping) 16:57, E. Reitz Hou (tripping) 17:36, N. Smith Mtb (high-sticking) 19:55
| SHOTS |
1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
| Houston |
6 |
6 |
5 |
17 |
| Manitoba |
13 |
17 |
15 |
45 |
POWER PLAYS:Houston Aeros 1-6. Manitoba Moose 0-8. GOALTENDERS:Houston Aeros Kochan 6-14-1 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 60:00 SV: 44 GA: 1 [W] Manitoba Moose MacIntyre 24-12-2 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 59:09 SV: 14 GA: 3 [L]
Attendance:
7023
- HOU - #31 Dieter Kochan
- HOU - #15 Bryan Lundbohm
- MTB - #17 Jannik Hansen
- The Moose continue their four-games-in-five-nights stretch with their second of back-to-back games versus the Houston Aeros Wednesday at the MTS Centre.
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Updated: Mar. 20, 2007 at 10:09 PM CDT
