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Updated: Apr. 1, 2008 at 10:36 PM CDT

Wolves smother comeback, best Moose 5-4

By Jen Sharpe
www.moosehockey.com

Despite scoring the game's first goal and taking a 1-0 lead to the first intermission, the Manitoba Moose surrendered a season-high four goals in the second period vs. the Chicago Wolves. A late two-goal comeback attempt wasn't enough to force extra time, and the Moose ultimately fell 5-4 to the Wolves Tuesday night.

>> Click to view photos of tonight's game.

>> Click here to see official scorer's sheet

First Period

Exciting scoring chances at both ends of the ice highlighted the game's early minutes, but Chicago's Robert Gherson and Manitoba goaltender Drew MacIntyre -- with help from vigilant defenceman Dylan Yeo -- kept the puck from crossing either goal line. Just over two minutes in, Wolves center Kevin Doell took a high-sticking penalty, but the Moose were unable to tally an early man-advantage marker and went 0-for-1 on the powerplay.

That infraction was the first of many, keeping penalty box doors swinging through the period's halfway point. With both teams back at full strength, speedy Moose forwards Jannik Hansen and Michael Grabner capitalized on a loose puck and rushed the Wolves' zone on a partial breakaway. While surging up the right wing, Hansen wired the puck to Gherson's doorstep, where Grabner backhanded it over the goalie's shoulder to put the Moose up 1-0 at 12:24.

Although Chicago matched Manitoba's 13 shots by the end of the first, unbelievable saves by MacIntyre in the final minute maintained the Moose lead heading into the second period.

Second Period

Just over two minutes into the middle frame, the Wolves added two shots and a goal to their tally. While skating up the right wing, Andre Deveaux passed the puck to Colin Stuart in front, who redirected it under MacIntyre's right pad to tie the game at one.

Four minutes later, the visitors assumed their first lead of the game. Although MacIntyre made an initial stop and collapsed on the puck, Doell's persistent plugging freed the disc and pushed it into the net to put Chicago up 2-1.

An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty put Manitoba's Brown in the penalty box with just over nine minutes left on the clock, and Wolves used the opportunity to extend their lead. While Chicago controlled the play, defenceman Chad Denny received the puck and slapped it into the net to put his club up 3-1 on the powerplay.

The two-goal lead wouldn't last long, however. Though Gherson stopped Hansen's shot from the point, Moose blueliner Shaun Heshka swooped in and backhanded the rebound past the goalie to put Manitoba back within one.

Any offensive headway made by the Moose was soon put in peril when two consecutive penalties offered the Wolves nearly two full minutes of five-on-three. The league's third-best powerplay unit and top scorer wasted no time hitting the scoreboard: Jason Krog beat MacIntyre 30 seconds into the five-on-three to renew Chicago's two-goal lead.

The powerplay goal freed one player from the penalty box but kept the home team on the penalty kill heading into the third period.

Third Period

A Moose goaltending change put newly-crowned Rookie of the Month Cory Schneider in net to start the final frame. Though Schneider stopped the first two shots directed his way and the Moose benefited from back-to-back powerplays, a shorthanded Wolves two-on-one resulted in Doell's second goal of the game and a 5-2 Chicago lead.

Manitoba stayed on the powerplay and drew another Chicago infraction, prompting a two-man advantage for the home team. With just over 11 minutes left in the game, Hansen fired from the slot and got the puck past Gherson to put his club back within two.

With the club still on the powerplay, Greg Classen made it a one-goal game one minute later. The veteran's shot from the far edge of the face-off circle found its way through Gherson's pads and skates and into the net.

Although back-to-back Moose penalties late in the period failed to result in additional goals, the Wolves carried their 5-4 lead to the end of regulation.

Video Clips

Moose vs. Chicago Wolves Highlights - stream

Game Summary

SCORING	1	2	3	T
Chicago	0	4	1	5
Manitoba	1	1	2	4

Apr 1, 2008 - MTS Centre

FIRST PERIOD:

1. Manitoba, M. Grabner (22) (J. Hansen) 12:24

Penalties - K. Doell Chi (high-sticking) 2:41, S. Lehman Chi (roughing) 5:29, M. Brown Mtb (boarding) 5:29, B. Sterling Chi (hooking) 7:00, C. Genoway Mtb (tripping) 8:05, D. Rahimi Mtb (holding) 13:48, A. Deveaux Chi (roughing) 17:14, P. Labrie Mtb (roughing) 17:14

SECOND PERIOD:

2. Chicago, C. Stuart (7) (A. Deveaux, K. Doell) 2:03
3. Chicago, K. Doell (15) (N. Oystrick) 6:25
4. Chicago, C. Denny (2) (J. Motzko, J. Schultz) 12:05 PP
5. Manitoba, S. Heshka (8) (J. Hansen, M. Grabner) 12:51
6. Chicago, J. Krog (36) (S. Martins, N. Oystrick) 18:48 PP

Penalties - P. Labrie Mtb (interference) 7:03, M. Brown Mtb (unsportsmanlike conduct) 10:44, A. Deveaux Chi (interference) 13:28, J. Hansen Mtb (goaltender interference) 18:17, G. Rallo Mtb (slashing) 18:23

THIRD PERIOD:

7. Chicago, K. Doell (16) (J. Crabb, R. Gherson) 7:38 SH
8. Manitoba, J. Hansen (18) (B. Moran, N. Baumgartner) 8:44 PP
9. Manitoba, G. Classen (9) (M. Grabner, S. Heshka) 9:49

Penalties - B. Sipotz Chi (tripping) 4:07, B. Sterling Chi (interference) 6:46, R. Gherson Chi (delay of game) 7:46, B. Moran Mtb (hooking) 11:50, G. Classen Mtb (goaltender interference) 15:56

SHOTS	1	2	3	T
Chicago	13	8	5	26
Manitoba	13	9	6	28

POWER PLAYS:

Chicago Wolves 2-8. Manitoba Moose 1-6.

GOALTENDERS:

Chicago Wolves
Gherson 8-6-0
Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 60:00 SV: 24 GA: 4 [W]

Manitoba Moose
MacIntyre 25-18-2
Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 39:54 SV: 17 GA: 4

Schneider 21-12-2
Start: 3rd 0:00 Min: 18:56 SV: 4 GA: 1 [L]

Attendance:
7,193

Three Stars

Three Stars

CHI - Kevin Doell
MTB - Jannik Hansen
MTB - Michael Grabner

What's Next

The Moose and Wolves meet for a rematch and conclude their four-game season series Wednesday night at the MTS Centre. Manitoba then closes out its regular season home schedule Friday and Saturday nights vs. Toronto.

Moose Image Gallery

Photos by Travis Golby, the Manitoba Moose. Click on one of the thumbnails at right to reveal a larger version of this image.

Photos by Jonathan Kozub. Click on one of the below thumbnails to reveal a larger version of the image above.

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