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MOOSE TAKE 1-0 SERIES LEAD OVER HOUSTON

Manitoba Moose vs. Houston Aeros
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MANITOBA EXTENDS WINNING STREAK TO EIGHT STRAIGHT GAMES

By Christina Caligiuri

Friday night proved to be a night of firsts for the Manitoba Moose as they won their first-ever AHL Western Conference Final game while Dusty Collins and Mario Bliznak potted their first post-season goals. Cody Hodgson appeared in his first professional game and also earned his first professional point. Manitoba’s 2-1 victory gives them a 1-0 series lead over the Houston Aeros. Goaltender Cory Schneider was nearly flawless stopping 31 of 32 shots for his eighth consecutive victory.

Manitoba flew out of the gates to begin their Western Conference Final series but a group of misdirected shots kept their count at zero, failing to register a shot in the first 10 minutes of play.

Manitoba’s powerplay unit made their debut at 7:05 when Marco Rosa was penalized for roughing. Their man-advantage was cut short, however, when Shaun Heshka evened the odds with an interference call at 7:50. Neither team capitalized on their opening five-on-four, but Houston took the shot lead 3-0.

The home club’s fourth line opened the scoring at 14:45. In his first professional game, Cody Hodgson took the puck off the boards and fired the bullet to Greg Rallo. After Rallo’s shot bounced off Anton Khudobin’s right goal pad, Dusty Collins tipped it in to earn the first lead of the game.

It was a strong defensive battle on both ends of the ice with many scoring opportunities, but both goaltenders stood tall and didn’t allow a goal during the second period. Houston continued to lead in shots 20-14 after 40 minutes.

Houston earned their third man-advantage when Mark Fistric was put away for hooking at 9:03 of the final frame. The Aeros planted themselves in the Moose zone early on the powerplay. Tony Hrkac passed the puck across the crease to a patiently waiting Matt Beaudoin who tipped it in to knot the game at one.

The teams only sat even for two-minutes before the Moose stole back the lead. Mario Bliznak wired the bullet passed Khudobin’s glove to score his first postseason goal at 11:58. 

Houston opted for an extra attacker in the final minute of play, pulling their goaltender from his crease. Despite the fierce effort, Houston could not notch a second goal and the Moose took a 1-0 series lead with a 2-1 victory at the MTS Centre.
 

 

 

 

SCORE ARRAY
Array
(
    [0] =>  SCORING 
    [1] =>  1
    [2] =>  2
    [3] =>  3
    [4] =>  T
    [5] => Houston
    [6] => 0
    [7] => 0
    [8] => 1
    [9] => 1
    [10] => Manitoba
    [11] => 1
    [12] => 0
    [13] => 1
    [14] => 2
    [15] => 
)
SHOT ARRAY
Array
(
    [0] =>  SHOTS 
    [1] =>  1
    [2] =>  2
    [3] =>  3
    [4] =>  T
    [5] => Houston
    [6] => 10
    [7] => 10
    [8] => 12
    [9] => 32
    [10] => Manitoba
    [11] => 4
    [12] => 10
    [13] => 4
    [14] => 18
    [15] => 
)

Game Summary

Scoring 1 2 3 OT T
Houston 0 0 1 1
Manitoba 1 0 1 2

MTS Centre, May 15, 2009

First Period:

  1. MTB, D. Collins (1), G. Rallo, C. Hodgson, 14:45

Penalties

  • M. Rosa, V, 2.00, 7:05
  • S. Heshka, H, 2.00, 7:50
  • M. Keane, H, 2.00, 17:01

Second Period:

Penalties

  • B. Lundbohm, V, 2.00, 18:36

Third Period:

  1. HOU, M. Beaudoin (4), T. Hrkac, C. Locke, 9:50
  2. MTB, M. Bliznak (1), M. Keane, G. Desbiens, 11:58

Penalties

  • B. Pouliot, V, 2.00, 2:40
  • M. Fistric, H, 2.00, 9:03
  • C. Stoner, V, 2.00, 13:28

OT Period:

Penalties

Shots 1 2 3 OT T
Houston 10 10 12 32
Manitoba 4 10 4 18

POWER PLAYS:

Houston
1 / 3 | 8 min / 4 inf | 1 G + 2 A = 3 Pts

Manitoba
0 / 4 | 6 min / 3 inf | 2 G + 4 A = 6 Pts

GOALTENDERS:

Houston
30, A. Khudobin (L), 58:46, 18, 16, 2

Manitoba 35, C. Schneider (W), 59:44, 32, 31, 1

ATTENDANCE:
9703

Three Stars

1. MTB - C. Schneider
2. HOU - C. Locke
3. MTB - C. Hodgson

What's Next?

The Moose and Aeros embark on Game 2 at the MTS Centre tomorrow night.

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