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Updated: Apr. 11, 2008 at 8:28 PM CDT

Moose chase but can't catch Griffins

By Jen Sharpe
www.moosehockey.com

Though the Manitoba Moose kept grasping at comeback, the Grand Rapids Griffins converted an early two-goal lead into a 6-3 victory Friday night. Alexandre Bolduc, Colby Genoway, and Greg Rallo scored for the Moose, while Griffins forward Evan McGrath led all skaters with three points in the game.

>> Click here to see official scorer's sheet

First Period

Moose netminder Drew MacIntyre was called upon to face his former club for the sixth time this season, but Griffins goalie Adam Berkhoel would be the first to face the puck. Though Manitoba out-shot Grand Rapids 3-1 in the first five minutes, the Griffins assumed the game's first lead, thanks to a two-on-one surge completed by forward Francis Lemieux.

Four minutes later, a hooking penalty to Jon Insana gave the Moose the chance to tie it up on the powerplay, but the home team held strong through the two minutes and maintained their one-goal lead.

Though the Moose were unable to score on the powerplay, the Griffins wasted no time taking advantage of their man-advantage. With Daniel Rahimi in the penalty box for holding, Grand Rapids' Tyler Redenbach received a feed at the top of the face-off circle and redirected the puck past MacIntyre to give the Griffins a 2-0 lead heading into the second period.

Second Period

Only 19 seconds into the second period, Alexandre Bolduc put the Moose back within one. After earning the puck in the Manitoba zone, the forward sped through the neutral zone and past the defenders to beat Berkhoel on a breakaway.

Grand Rapids' Randall Gelech ensured the one-goal game wouldn't last long, however. Although MacIntyre stopped a handful of shots from a swarming flock of Griffins, a rebound made its way out to Gelech at the slot, who capitalized on a screen to set the score at 3-1.

An interference penalty to Garrett Stafford put the Moose back on the powerplay, but the five-on-four did little to help Manitoba's cause. While battling on the penalty kill, Griffins center Darren Helm broke into the Moose zone and scored shorthanded to put his club up 4-1 on 16 shots.

A trio of penalties through the rest of the frame kept special teams on the ice, but the score remained unchanged through to the second period buzzer.

Third Period

Although the Moose slipped to 0-for-4 on the powerplay early in the third, Colby Genoway's patience resulted in Manitoba's second even-strength goal of the game. After waiting for a line change while holding onto the puck, Genoway descended into the open Griffins zone and wrapped the puck around Berkhoel's left skate.

But like in the second period, the Griffins soon re-padded their goal cushion. Less than two minutes after Genoway's goal, Helm skated up the slot and backhanded the puck over MacIntyre's glove to notch his second of the game and restore Grand Rapids' three-goal lead.

With less than seven minutes left to play, the Moose struggled to gain some ground by forcing the puck into the net and, simultaneously, the net off its moorings. The goal was disallowed, and Rick Rypien headed to the penalty box for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Upon the return of five-on-five play, Greg Rallo tipped in Luc Bourdon's shot from the point to narrow the goal gap once again. But a late penalty to Moose defenceman Shaun Heshka and a final powerplay goal from net-crashing Evan McGrath secured a 6-3 victory for the Griffins Friday night.

Game Summary

SCORING	1	2	3	T
Manitoba	0	1	2	3
Grand Rapids	2	2	2	6

Apr 11, 2008 - Van Andel Arena

FIRST PERIOD:

1. Grand Rapids, F. Lemieux (5) (E. McGrath, J. Kindl) 5:02
2. Grand Rapids, T. Redenbach (3) (J. Tardif, M. O'Leary) 18:00 PP

Penalties - J. Insana Gra (hooking) 8:59, D. Rahimi Mtb (holding) 17:45

SECOND PERIOD:

3. Manitoba, A. Bolduc (18) (M. Keane, C. Genoway) 0:19
4. Grand Rapids, R. Gelech (7) (E. McGrath, J. Insana) 4:31
5. Grand Rapids, D. Helm (14) 5:38 SH

Penalties - G. Stafford Gra (interference) 5:08, B. Moran Mtb (hooking) 6:44, J. Kindl Gra (holding) 15:17, J. Simek Mtb (hooking) 17:36

THIRD PERIOD:

6. Manitoba, C. Genoway (15) (M. Fortunus) 4:48
7. Grand Rapids, D. Helm (15) 6:24
8. Manitoba, G. Rallo (4) (L. Bourdon, M. Brown) 16:26
9. Grand Rapids, E. McGrath (17) (G. Stafford, J. Ericsson) 19:08 PP

Penalties - G. Stafford Gra (hooking) 0:38, R. Rypien Mtb (unsportsmanlike conduct) 13:25, T. Galvin Gra (broken stick) 13:25, C. Genoway Mtb (cross-checking) 14:07, S. Heshka Mtb (hooking) 18:18

SHOTS	1	2	3	T
Manitoba	7	8	8	23
Grand Rapids	10	15	8	33

POWER PLAYS:

Manitoba Moose 0-4. Grand Rapids Griffins 2-5.

GOALTENDERS:

Manitoba Moose
MacIntyre 25-18-2
Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 59:48 SV: 27 GA: 6 [L]

Grand Rapids Griffins
Berkhoel 10-14-4
Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 60:00 SV: 20 GA: 3 [W]

Attendance:
7,234

Three Stars

Three Stars

GRA - Darren Helm
GRA - Evan McGrath
MTB - Colby Genoway

What's Next

The Moose continue their season-closing three-in-three with a rematch vs. the Griffins Saturday night in Grand Rapids.

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