TORONTO -- Could his middle name be Ricoh?
Jesse Schultz had a hat trick and a two-goal game in Ricoh Coliseum last season and in 2006-07 has been a key factor for the Manitoba Moose three out of three times on the shores of Lake Ontario.
The 24-year-old right-winger did it again Wednesday night, making the key play for Nathan Smith's game-winning goal with under 10 minutes to play as the Moose won their eighth straight in a 4-1 victory over the Toronto Marlies.
In the two previous games here this season, Schultz had a goal and an assist in each, important contributions in those Moose wins.
"With him it's just confidence," said Smith, who tipped in the winner when he won an offensive faceoff back to Schultz at the point and Schultz returned a hard pass to the side of the Toronto net. "He's an offensive player and when he gets the opportunity, he can do dangerous things with the puck.
"It's a matter of him just getting his confidence going and just shooting the puck and as you've seen more than a couple of time, when he gets it in the slot, he's pretty dangerous."
Schultz has 16 goals and 31 points this season, off his team-leading pace of a year ago. But he's been an impact player for the team in recent games -- and just at the right time as the season heads for the homestretch -- with six goals and seven points in the last seven games.
 | Manitoba 4 Toronto 1
FIRST PERIOD
It's getting late in the season and both teams were paying close attention to defensive responsibilities.
Moose 0 / Toronto 0
SECOND PERIOD
Through two periods, the teams might have combined for two odd-man rushes. Marlies strike first with a Robbie Earl goal. Moose counter with 3.7 seconds remaining in the period, getting a fortunate bounce that leads to Brad Moran's 18th of the season, just seconds after a power play expires.
Moose 1 / Toronto 1
THIRD PERIOD
Game is broken open in the 51st minute when Nathan Smith wins an offensive faceoff after a long commercial break. Jesse Schultz, at the point, makes a hard pass to the side of the net where Smith tips home the winner. Goren and J.J. Hunter with the empty-netter, add later insurance.
Moose 4 / Toronto 1
ICE CHIPS
Game Breaker:
Schultz. Set up the winner with a great play. Broke up a two on one with a diving check late in the third period. Ricoh Coliseum is his kind of place and Moose winning streak is now eight.
Against the Law:
IN defiance of the laws of hockey physics, Dean Morton was involved in a play that helped the Moose. When Lee Goren's shot hit the crossbar, the carom hit Morton near the side of the net and bounded back towards the crease and before Marlies goalie Justin Pogge could cover, Moran shovelled home the loose puck for a goal.
Next
Moose at Rochester, Friday at Blue Cross Arena, 6:30 p.m. CT (CJOB).
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"I don't know, I had some success here last year, too," Schultz said, asked about loving Ricoh. "It's just one of those things. When you have some success in a building, you feel better when you get out there, you have a little bit more jump.
"I don't if (the game) is easier now but I feel a lot more comfortable and a lot less frustrated. Plays are starting to work and click. It's definitely different than what was going on before."
A season-low crowd of 1,869 saw the Marlies fall 10 points back of the final North Division playoff spot and a full 21 behind the Moose.
Manitoba, meanwhile, moved into second spot ahead of Hamilton and stands just two points back of the division-leading Rochester. The Amerks lost at home Wednesday night and face the Moose on Friday in stop No. 4 of Manitoba's six-game road trip.
Schultz and Smith combined to take all the starch out of the Marlies in Wednesday night's third period.
"It's confidence," Arniel said, asked about a resurgent Schultz. "When he believes in himself, goes and plays and isn't so hard on himself... and I see a lot more stuff away from the puck, the back-checking, his battling on the walls and getting pucks out, taking some responsibility about where he is positionally.
"Obviously he's in a groove and likes where he's at right now."
Arniel could even take some of the credit last night. He drew up the winning play for the Schultz-Smith-Colby Genoway line during a long commercial break.
"We tried it earlier but didn't execute it so well," Schultz said. "This one went exactly as we wanted and they were giving us so much room off the draw."
tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca
