By Jen Sharpe
www.moosehockey.com
In the third game in nine days between both clubs, Rockford defeated Manitoba 2-1 at MetroCentre, the IceHogs first home victory since joining the AHL. Veteran goaltender and former Moose Wade Flaherty stopped 41 of 42 shots to earn the win for Rockford, while Manitoba rookie Juraj Simek scored the lone Moose goal of the game.
>> Click here to see official scorer's sheet
First Period
The Manitoba Moose came out strong in their first-ever game at Rockford, taking an early 6-4 shot lead over the hometown 'Hogs. But with Manitoba's Pierre-Cedric Labrie taking the first penalty of the game, the IceHogs' powerplay put pressure on Moose penalty-killers, and Troy Brouwer cracked netminder Drew MacIntyre to put Rockford up 1-0.
12 minutes into the opening frame, the Moose benefited from their first powerplay of the game but failed to beat former teammate Wade Flaherty. By the end of the first, the Moose led the shot-count 13-12 but trailed 1-0.
Second Period
Fantastic saves by both Flaherty and MacIntyre helped stifle two powerplays early in the second. Showing signs of the scrappiness both teams showcased Oct. 25 & 26 at Manitoba, a multi-player tussle in the Moose zone resulted in a boarding penalty to Rockford's Colin Fraser at 5:54. Though the Moose pushed past the 20-shot mark, Flaherty kept the puck out of the net and the Moose off the scoreboard.
After 40 minutes and 28 shots, the Moose continued to trail by one heading into the final frame.
Third Period
Flaherty managed an airtight two-periods, but two Moose rookies would team up to defeat the veteran goaltender five minutes into the third period. With help from Michael Grabner, Juraj Simek scored his third of the season and second in two nights to tie the game at one.
As Manitoba surged past the 35-shot mark midway through the third, Rockford surged into the Moose zone. Michael Blunden led the offensive rush and slipped the puck underneath MacIntyre to restore Rockford's one-goal lead.
Reeling from the go-ahead goal, Moose tempers flared on the red line by the benches, resulting in a five-on-five scrap between both teams. Three players received roughing penalties for their roles in the brawl, followed shortly by a high-sticking minor to Rockford's Martin St. Pierre.
Unfortunately for Manitoba, the man-advantage made no difference to the score. Rockford resisted Manitoba's extra attacker and held on for a 2-1 victory Saturday night.
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| SCORING |
1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
| Manitoba |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Rockford |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
Nov 3, 2007 - Rockford MetroCentre FIRST PERIOD:1. Rockford, T. Brouwer (5) (E. Brophey, M. St. Pierre) 8:09 PP Penalties - P. Labrie Mtb (hooking) 7:29, G. Classen Mtb (hooking) 10:07, K. Versteeg Rfd (hooking) 11:58, K. Versteeg Rfd (slashing) 16:40 SECOND PERIOD:No Scoring Penalties - C. Barker Rfd (holding) 1:06, J. Simek Mtb (hooking) 3:07, C. Fraser Rfd (boarding) 5:54, M. Brown Mtb (hooking) 13:46 THIRD PERIOD:2. Manitoba, J. Simek (3) (M. Grabner) 4:54 3. Rockford, M. Blunden (3) (M. St. Pierre) 13:27 Penalties - N. McIver Mtb (roughing) 13:54, C. Fraser Rfd (roughing) 13:54, M. St. Pierre Rfd (roughing) 13:54, M. St. Pierre Rfd (high-sticking) 16:37
| SHOTS |
1 |
2 |
3 |
T |
| Manitoba |
13 |
15 |
14 |
42 |
| Rockford |
12 |
8 |
5 |
25 |
POWER PLAYS:Manitoba Moose 0-6. Rockford IceHogs 1-4. GOALTENDERS:Manitoba Moose MacIntyre 25-18-2 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 59:26 SV: 23 GA: 2 [L] Rockford IceHogs Flaherty 13-8-1 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 60:00 SV: 41 GA: 1 [W]
Attendance:
5,495
- RFD - Wade Flaherty
- RFD - Troy Brouwer
- MTB - Drew MacIntyre
- After Friday night's come-from-behind victory in Milwaukee, the Moose host the Admirals for two games next week. The Moose are now 1-0-0-0 vs. the Admirals this season, bringing their all-time record to 14-11-1-3 vs. Milwaukee.
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Updated: Nov. 3, 2007 at 9:44 PM CDT
