DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN
WINNIPEG, Manitoba – The Manitoba Moose scored goals in each of the first two periods and held off a Grand Rapids Griffins rally in the third to take a 2-1 win in Game 6 of the North Division Semifinals on Sunday at the MTS Centre, tying the best-of-seven series at three games apiece.
The Griffins, who staged the greatest comeback in their playoff history last year against the Moose in Game 7 of the division finals at Van Andel Arena, will now try for the same result in a different venue. The decisive game of this series will take place Tuesday at the MTS Centre at 8:30 p.m. EDT, with the winner advancing to the North Division Finals to face the third-seeded Hamilton Bulldogs.
Awarded 1:51 of a two-man advantage late in the opening period thanks to a dubious goaltender interference call against Ryan Oulahen, the Moose did not squander their gift, scoring the first goal for the fourth straight game and the fifth time in the series. After Ben Simon nearly had a shorthanded breakaway, Brad Moran quickly rushed the puck down the right side and shot a backhand that Jimmy Howard stopped, but Moran got to his forehand and flipped the rebound over Howard from the side of the net at 15:29.
While Howard soon after made a brilliant glove save on a point-blank attempt by Mason Raymond to keep it a one-goal deficit at the first intermission, Manitoba succeeded in pushing that margin to two at the 6:31 mark of the middle period. Controversy shrouded this goal as well, as Jason Jaffray appeared to kick the puck into the net from the left side.
The goal nevertheless stood and the Moose took their 2-0 lead into the final 20 minutes, maintaining it until less than four minutes remained. Off a faceoff in the Manitoba zone, Brad Norton teed up a shot above the right circle that blew past Drew MacIntyre’s left shoulder and into the mesh at 16:23.
Grand Rapids pulled Howard with less than two minutes left in favor of an extra attacker, but two subsequent Griffins penalties enabled the Moose to end the game with a 5-on-3 power play.
Both goaltenders finished with 21 saves, but Manitoba converted one of its seven power play chances while Grand Rapids was unable to capitalize on three attempts.
All time, the Griffins are now 7-9 overall and 5-3 on the road when their opponent faces elimination.
