Former Portage Terrier Junior Lessard scored the only goal of the game at 15:04 of the first period and the Iowa Stars held on from there for the 1-0 victory at Wells Fargo Arena. The Moose fired 27 shots at Dan Ellis in the Stars net but could not beat the Iowa netminder. The Moose set a franchise record as they were shutout for the eighth time this season. Manitoba heads back to Omaha to finish their season series versus the Knights on Wednesday night.
Drew MacIntyre gets the start in goal for the Moose and Dan Ellis starts for the Iowa Stars.
The two teams wasted no time getting friendly as Lee Goren and Francis Wathier dropped the gloves just 0:13 into the game. Both players threw and landed a few good shots, the players momentum caused both players to fall to the ice. Call this one a draw.
Then just 0:03 later Kelly Czuy was given an interference penalty to give the Moose the first powerplay advantage of the game. Manitoba couldn't get much going with the man-advantage and the Stars were able to kill it off successfully.
Brad Moran was cranked into the boards deep in the Stars end where Marc Fistric was given a penalty for boarding.
Manitoba's second powerplay chance was better than their first but they still couldn't get any quality scoring chances on Dan Ellis.
The Moose domintaed in shots through the first half of the period not allowing a single shot on goal through 10:00.
It took the Iowa Stars 15:04 to get their first official shot on net in the game and they would make it count taking a 1-0 lead. Chris Connor chased down a puck in the left corner of the Moose zone and then fed a pass out front to a streaking Junior Lessard who re-directed the pass into the back of the net past MacIntyre. Connor and Marty Wilford drew the assists on the opening goal, Lessard's team-leading 23rd of the season.
The Moose trail 1-0 after 20:00 of play despite leading 10-3 in shots.
Second Period
Chris Connor looked to extend the Stars lead early in the second when he tried to stuff the puck in as he drove through the Moose crease. MacIntyre made the nice pad save to keep the Moose deficit at one.
Scott May took the third penalty of the game for the Stars 3:32 in to the period, putting the Moose back on the powerplay. For the third straight time the Moose would be unable to connect with the man-advantage.
Prestin Ryan took the first penalty of the game for the Moose, 2:00 for boarding at 7:42 of the second frame.
Scott May had the best chance for the Stars with the man-advantage as he just missed putting away a rebound to the left of Drew MacIntyre. The Moose were able to kill off the remainder of the penalty.
Shane Endicott was stoned by Drew MacIntyre as he had slipped in behind the Moose defence, and only a nice two-pad stck would keep the Stars forward from making it 2-0.
Greg Rallo took the fourth penalty of the game for the Stars, a holding penalty at 11:16. The Stars killed off the Moose man-advantage for the fourth consecutive time.
Drew MacIntyre took a delay of game penalty when he accidentally cleared the puck over the boards at 13:49. The #1 Moose penalty-kill managed to shut down Iowa's 26th-ranked powerplay as both teams remain scoreless on the powerplay.
With 2:15 left in the period Stars coach David Allison called his timeout as it appeared he wasn't happy with what his team was doing, despite being up 1-0.
No scoring in the second period leaves the Moose down 1-0 through two periods. The Moose continue to lead in shots 16-13.
Third Period
Mason Raymond took his first penalty as a professional when he was called for hooking at 11:09, giving the Stars their third opportunity with the extra attacker.
After killing off the penalty the Moose started to turn up the pressure in the Stars zone in an effort to tie the game.
Jannik Hansen was stopped on a wrist shot from the high slot, then Brad Moran fired wide as he walked through the Iowa defence but couldn't find the mark.
Mason Raymond was stopped on the doorstep as he tried to chip the puck while crashing through the Stars crease.
Dan Ellis made a great reaction save as his own defenceman, Mark Ardelan, fumbled a dump in and as he tried to control the bouncing puck he almost put it through the legs of Ellis.
Scott Arniel called his timeout with 1:04 left in the game and pulled Drew MacIntyre at that time to give the Moose the 6-on-5 advantage.
It was too-little-too-late for the Moose as they could not beat Dan Ellis in net and the team would suffer their 21st loss of the season. The shutout set a team record for shutouts against in a season with eight.
Updated: Apr. 1, 2007 at 7:39 PM CDT
