The Manitoba Moose started their seven-game road trip with a 2-1 shootout loss versus the Milwaukee Admirals. Dov Grumet-Morris had another stellar game in goal for the Moose making 43 saves enroute to first star honours in a losing cause. The Moose hit for the cycle versus the Admirals on the season going 1-1-1-1 and will now head to Chicago tomorrow to take on the Wolves.
Dov Grumet-Morris gets his second start of the season for the Moose as they are trying to determine who will be the primary backup to Drew MacIntyre. Pekka Rinne will start in goal for the Milwaukee Admirals.
The Admirals jumped out to an early lead when Kim Staal fired a shot on net from the right boards that Dov Grumet-Morris made the save on, but the puck rebounded off of Dustin Wood in front of the goal and into the back of the Moose net to give the home-side a 1-0 lead at 2:17 of the opening period.
Brad Moran took the first penalty of the game for tripping, putting the Moose penalty kill to work at 6:23. Manitoba had the best chance to score shorthanded as Brendan Brooks picked off a pass at the Moose blueline and broke in 2-on-0 with Nathan Smith. Brooks kept the puck the whole way as he tried to use Smith as a decoy, taking the shot on goal that Rinne was able to stop. That was the first shot on goal for the Moose in the game.
Nolan Yonkman took a hooking penalty at 9:22 to give the Moose their first chance with the man-advantage in the game. Manitoba got a couple of shots on goal with the extra man but nothing too threatening as the Admirals killed off the penalty successfully.
Max Fortunus took an interference penalty at 15:22 to put the Admirals back on the powerplay. The Moose top PK unit stepped up once again to kill off the man-advantage and leave the home side 0-for-2 in the first period.
The Moose battled back to tie the game late as J.J. Hunter and Colby Genoway did a great job of forechecking behind the Admirals goal. Hunter outbattled Sheldon Brookbank for the puck digging it loose to Genoway who fed a pass out front to Brandon Reid who one-timed it home to tie the game at one goal apiece with just 1:17 left in the first.
Second Period
Chris Durno broke in on a 2-on-1 but Dov Grumet-Morris made a nice save to keep the game tied.
Brendan Brooks pressured the Admirals defence deep in the Milwaukee zone causing a turnover to Mike Keane right in the slot. The Moose Captain fired it wide of the goal missing a glorious chance to give the Moose the lead.
The second period was a tale of "close but no cigar" for both teams as there were several good scoring chances on both sides, but both goaltenders stepped up for their teams to hold the other side off the board.
The Moose are being horribly outshot 33-12 but the teams are still tied at one goal apiece heading to the third.
Third Period
Sheldon Brookbank took a hooking penalty at 2:41 of the third to give the Moose their second powerplay of the game. Manitoba could not capitalize with the extra man however leaving them 0-for-2 on the game.
Jannik Hansen was up-ended by Kim Staal, sending the Admirals forward to the box for 2:00 and sending the Moose back to the powerplay. Once again the Milwaukee penalty-kill looked strong as they barely let the Moose penetrate the zone.
Nathan McIver took a holding penalty at 11:54 of the period to send the Admirals to their third man-advantage of the game. The Moose did a solid job killing the penalty, allowing one long shot through, but no more.
With 5:27 left in regulation, Mason Raymond had a grand chance to put the Moose on top as he broke in on Pekka Rinne. Raymond picked off a pass at the Milwaukee blueline and broke in all alone, firing a shot high, but the young Finnish goaltender got just enough of the shot to deflect it into the netting behind the goal.
An icing penalty with 0:03 left in regulation gave the Moose one final scoring chance before the end of the period. J.J. Hunter won the draw clean and Yannick Trebmblay fired a low hard shot that Pekka Rinne had to make a quick right pad save on to send the game to overtime.
Through three periods the Moose have been outshot 41-22.
Overtime
Jason Jaffray had an early chance in OT as Rinne thought about trying to outrace Jaffray to a loose puck, and got caught in no-man's-land way out of his crease. Jaffray tried to drive wide of the Admirals' tender but Rinne dove to drive Jaffray behind the goal and break up the scoring chance.
Grumet-Morris made a nice diving save of his own as he was forced to go post-to-post when Cal O'Reilly trieda wrap-a-round effort.
Neither team could score in OT sending this game to a shootout. The third straight shootout for the Moose.
Shootout
1)MTB - Brandon Reid - made a nice deke on Rinne and appeared to have the Admirals' goaltender down-and-out, but he managed to keep his pad down on the ice to make a fantastic save. Saved
1)MIL - Ville Koistenen - fired a rocket shot high over the glove of Grumet-Morris to put the Admirals up 1-0 in the shootout. Scored
2)MTB - Lee Goren - tried to shoot low to the right post but was stopped by Rinne. Saved
2)MIL - Kim Staal - tried to deke Grumet-Morris but the young Moose tender poke-checked the puck off of his stick. Saved
3)MTB - Mason Raymond - fired a shot high that Pekka Rinne stopped with his blocker. Saved
3)MIL - Chris Durno - tried to shoot five-hole but was stopped by Grumet-Morris. Saved
4)MTB - Yannick Tremblay - tried to shoot high to the glove-side of Rinne but the Admirals tender got a piece of it to send it wide. Saved
4)MIL - Yonkman - had a chance to win it with a goal, but Grumet-Morris made a nice blocker save to keep the Moose in it. Saved
5)MTB - Colby Genoway - came in with speed, tried to slam on the breaks and toe drag the puck around Rinne. Unfortunately he stummbled and lost the handle on the puck to end the shootout. Saved
The Moose got a single point out of their first of a seven-game road trip. Dov Grumet-Morris made 43 saves in a losing effort as he tries to make his case for the backup goaltending duties for the Moose. Manitoba will now head to Chicago in a battle of Division leaders as the Moose will look to increase their lead in the Western Conference.
The Moose continue their road trip tomorrow night in Chicago to face the Wolves at Allstate Arena. The game will be televised on Shaw Cable channel 9 at 7:00PM CDT.
Updated: Mar. 27, 2007 at 9:40 PM CDT
