By Travis Kondratuk
www.moosehockey.com
For the third time this season the Moose shutout the Peoria Rivermen, earning their 44th victory and 100th point of the season in the process. Combined with Rochester's loss to Syracuse on Saturday the Moose officially clinched their first North Division Title. Manitoba closed out their road record at 20-13-4-3 and now head home for their final two games of the regular season at the MTS Centre.
>> Click here to see official scorer's sheet
First Period
Dov Grumet-Morris gets his third start of the season for the Moose and his second versus the Rivermen after shutting them out on Mar. 18, while Marek Schwarz gets the start in goal for Peoria.
Prestin Ryan took a penalty just 0:28 in when he cross-checked Ryan Ramsey right in the chops. Manitoba had a good chance shorthanded when Marc Chouinard and Mike Brown broke in 2-on-1. The play was broken up however when the Peoria defenceman slid across in front of Chouinard's pass attempt for Brown at the far post.
Grumet-Morris was forced into a good save before the powerplay ended for Peoria as he made a nice save on a cross-ice one-time effort by Peter Ferraro. The Moose killed off the remainder of the penalty leaving Peoria scoreless with the man-advantage all season.
Gavin Morgan took the first penalty for the Rivermen as he was called for hooking at 4:12 giving the Moose their first powerplay chance of the game.
Dov Grumet-Morris almost gift wrapped a goal for Peoria shorthanded as he tried to backhand the puck behind his net to one of his defenceman. Yan Stastny stormed in to pick off the pass behind the goal and then tried to wrap the puck around as he caught Grumet-Morris out of position. Luckily the young Moose goalie slid across just in time to stop the puck at the left post. The Moose failed to capitalize on the remainder of the penalty.
Mike Stuart took another penalty for the Rivermen, this time for elbowing at 7:07. The Moose failed to score with the man-advantage, leaving them 0-for-2 on the night.
The Rivermen had the bulk of the pressure in the Moose zone as they peppered Grumet-Morris, but the Moose goaltender looked sharp once again as he turned aside all 18 first period shots.
Second Period
Gavin Morgan took his second penalty of the game for Peoria when he crashed into Dov Grumet-Morris in the Moose crease.
The Moose were unable to capitalize on the man-advantage once again as they could only manage one shot on goal.
Maxime Fortunus gave the Rivermen their second chance with the man-advantage as he was called for interference at 7:01 of the period. The Moose easily killed off the chance as their penalty kill is looking good as the team gears up for the playoffs.
Marek Schwarz got caught out of his crease and Jesse Schultz missed on a glorious chance to give the Moose the lead as he fired the puck into the side of the net with the goal wide open.
The game is being played at a frantic pace as the teams have combined for 51 shots, but the goaltenders are the story as both Schwarz and Grumet-Morris are perfect on the night.
Third Period
Lee Goren blasted home a beautiful one-timer from the left face-off circle to give the Moose the first goal of the game 0:32 into the third period. The Moose were finishing up a powerplay that carried over from the second period where former Moose Tomas Mojzis was called for cross-checking. Alex Edler and Jason Jaffray drew the assists on the opening goal and that point gives Jaffray 80 on the season.
Steve Wagner put the Moose back on the powerplay as he took the fifth penalty of the game for Peoria, a slashing call at 13:04.
The Moose would make them pay once again as Jason Jaffray notched his team-leading 35th goal of the season. Jaffray took a cross-ice pass from Alex Edler, patiently looked up, picked his spot and fired it over the shoulder of Marek Schwarz for the goal. Edler and Brad Moran assisted on the insurance marker at 14:26. The powerplay marker ties Jaffray for the franchise record of 16 in a season.
The Rivermen pulled Schwarz with just under 2:00 left to try and get back in it, but the extra-attacker didn't help them all season versus the Moose as they were held scoreless all season with the man-advantage by Manitoba.
The Moose held on, earning Grumet-Morris his second straight shutout versus Peoria and back-to-back shutouts overall. The goaltending duo of Grumet-Morris and Drew MacIntyre set a new season high for consecutive shutout minutes not having allowed a goal since Dave Van der Gulik scored at the 6:25 mark of the third period on Wednesday night.
Manitoba earned their 44th win of the season, matching last season's total for wins and matching last season's total of 100 points in the process as well.
The Moose record on the road this season finished at 20-13-4-3 and they finished 16-8-3-1 versus the West Division, while they were a perfect 4-0 versus Peoria shutting them out three times. Manitoba only allowed one unassisted goal to Mike Glumac in the four games versus the Rivermen this season.
Moose scratches: Wade Flaherty, Brandon Reid, J.J. Hunter, Brendan Brooks, Tyler Bouck, Shaun Heshka, Michael Grabner
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| SCORING |
1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
| Manitoba |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
| Peoria |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Apr 7, 2007 - Carver Arena FIRST PERIOD:No Scoring Penalties - P. Ryan Mtb (cross-checking) 0:28, G. Morgan Peo (hooking) 4:12, M. Stuart Peo (elbowing) 7:07 SECOND PERIOD:No Scoring Penalties - G. Morgan Peo (goaltender interference) 2:31, M. Fortunus Mtb (interference) 7:01, T. Mojzis Peo (cross-checking) 18:55 THIRD PERIOD:1. Manitoba, L. Goren (25) (A. Edler, J. Jaffray) 0:32 PP 2. Manitoba, J. Jaffray (35) (A. Edler, B. Moran) 14:26 PP Penalties - S. Wagner Peo (slashing) 13:04, P. Ryan Mtb (cross-checking) 16:00, P. Ryan Mtb (cross-checking) 20:00
| SHOTS |
1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
| Manitoba |
10 |
13 |
10 |
33 |
| Peoria |
18 |
10 |
6 |
34 |
POWER PLAYS:Manitoba Moose 2-5. Peoria Rivermen 0-4. GOALTENDERS:Manitoba Moose Grumet-Morris 4-7-5 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 59:47 SV: 34 GA: 0 [W] Peoria Rivermen Schwarz 19-13-0 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 57:47 SV: 31 GA: 2 [L]
Attendance:
3915
- MTB - #30 Dov Grumet-Morris
- MTB - #15 Jason Jaffray
- PEO - #12 Mike Stuart
- Manitoba finally heads home for their final two games of the regular season at the MTS Centre. The Moose will host the Toronto Marlies on Friday, April 13th and Saturday, April 14th.
- Friday, April 13th is Toyota Vehicle Giveaway Night at the MTS Centre where one lucky fan will win a brand new 2007 Toyota Tundra or Tacoma.
- Saturday, April 14th is Fan Appreciation night at the MTS Centre it's the final game of the regular season and the Moose want to thank all the fans for their fantastic support. There will be fantastic prizes all night long and fans will have the opportunity to win the "Shirt off a Moose player's back" as all of the player's jerseys from the game will be given away to fans after the game. There will also be a free post-game concert featuring Fresh I.E., Drew Brown, Malynda, Amanda Falke, Kerri Woelke, and the Muddy River Quartet.
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Updated: Apr. 7, 2007 at 9:34 PM CDT
