Manitoba Moose

They stood up for their goaltender in the crease. And then, in a long-awaited change, they stood up for Daren Machesney on the scoreboard.

And the result was a gutsy 3-1 Manitoba Moose victory over the San Antonio Rampage Saturday night before a crowd of 8,292 at the AT&T Center.

The victory -- which saw the Moose erupt for three goals in the third period after being held scoreless by San Antonio in the five periods that preceded it -- sent a buoyant Moose team home from this three-game Texas road swing with four of a possible six points.

The win also put the Moose within two points of the Rochester Americans, who are third in the AHL's North Division. The Amerks were beaten 4-1 by Hamilton Saturday night.

But as much as this was a team victory -- and a clutch performance after a 4-0 embarrassment to San Antonio on Friday -- the word in the dressing room was that this one was for the goaltender more than anyone else.

"We finally scored some goals for the kid," said Moose head coach Scott Arniel.

"We were embarrassed last night and tonight was about going out and competing. And I felt to a man we were excellent... Maybe we took a couple too many penalties (the club surrendered seven power plays) but I liked the fact we had an edge to our game."

That included a three-man gang-up after Machesney was run in the crease during the first period, something that has been happening a lot to the Moose netminders lately.

"Cheese played great," said Moose forward Matt Pettinger, who scored the game-winner from a sharp angle at 11:51 of the third period.

"We haven't been giving him much support the past few games. It was nice to come back for him."

It was the first victory since Jan. 2 for Machesney, who was riding a three-game losing streak after receiving just three goals in support over the course of his last three games.

It's been the same story for Machesney all year long. He's been hung with an awful 5-12-0-0 record that's had a lot more to do with the woeful offensive support he's received than his own play in relief of No. 1 goaltender Cory Schneider.

"We stuck with it and good things happened," said Machesney, who stoned San Antonio forward Kevin Porter on a breakaway late in the third to preserve the win.

"I tried not think too much tonight. I knew if I only let in that one goal that we'd win because I knew we were going to score at least two goals."

For the second straight night, the Moose fell behind on an early first-period goal.

This time however, they regained their composure and, with Machesney turning back 35 of 36 shots, were finally rewarded for their efforts with goals in the third period from Nolan Baumgartner on a goalmouth scramble, Pettinger from the sharp angle and Guillaume Desbiens into an empty net.

Top prospect Kyle Turris had the only goal for the Rampage, 8:51 into the first period.

With the victory, the Moose finish their seven-game road trip -- the longest of the season -- with a 4-3-0-0 record.

The club returns home today to face the Worcester Sharks at the MTS Centre Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

The Moose changed their flight plans so that the team will arrive home in time to see today's Olympic gold-medal hockey game between Canada and the United States.

BACK TO THE BIGS

Nolan Baumgartner, who was playing with the Vancouver Canucks until he got sent back down to the Moose for the Olympic break, will be recalled by Vancouver today as the Moose parent club continues to be plagued by injuries to their blue-liners. Baumgartner's spot in the Moose lineup is expected to be taken by Nathan McIver, who missed the Texas trip with a hand injury.