Moose get even with Marlies

WINNIPEG, Man  – Following a 3-2 loss at home to the Marlies on the opening day of the playoffs the Manitoba Moose had to come out guns blazing to tie the series before it heads back to Toronto. A fired-up Moose side wasted no time in putting the Marlies under pressure hitting the post within a minute of the opening face off. The Moose who were more disciplined than the Marlies in game one opted for the hard-hitting transition game in game two. A great hit center ice on Jeremy Williams lifted the Winnipeg crowd from its feet as the Moose continued the pressure. But it was “that man” Bates Battaglia that nearly opened the scoring for the Marlies against the run of play. A long pass down the middle of the ice saw Battaglia in one-on-one with netminder Cory Schneider but the usually lights-out scorer put the puck wide over a diving Schneider. With the first period into the final stages a minute changed the game. Capitalizing on its continued pressure the Moose finally broke the deadlock. Defenseman Nolan Baumgartner powered a slap shot at Justin Pogge in net but at the final stages of the shot Jason Jaffray re-directed the puck slightly beating a screened Pogge. Within just 15 seconds the Moose were two up, when a harmless play along the boards to Pogge`s right ended with the Marlies netminder being beaten short-sided when Michael Grabner’s slow but accurate shot beat a bewildered Pogge in net. An early five-on-three powerplay gave the home side its third goal, unable to keep its shape the Marlies penalty kill allowed to much room for Maxime Fortunus bring the puck in close to beat a wide open Pogge in net. As the Marlies pursued their first goal an outstanding save from Schneider kept the Marlies at bay as they failed to beat the AHL Netminder of the Year on a three-on-two break-in. Soon after with less than five minutes remaining the Marlies opening their scoring account. Even though he was having a superb game Schneider was unable to keep the puck out of the net after spoiling a slap shot bid. Marlies Jiri Tlusty was on hand to sweep up the extras and despite Schneider getting his stick to the puck it wasn’t enough to keep a clean sheet. In the third the Marlies increased the pressure looking for the second of the night but an in-form Schneider kept turning them away. Continuing to crash the net the Marlies were given a bit of luck from the hockey gods, firing a harmless puck into a crowd finished with a goal for Marlies captain Daryl Boyce. With his vision blocked the puck crept past Schneider in net. With less than a minute remaining the Marlies pulled Pogge for the extra man but a tick-tack-toe play from the Moose ended the Marlies hopes of a come back as Jason Jaffray scored his second of the night. Contact the author at Kevin.oconnor@prohockeynews.com   
Catch all the playoffs at Intotheboards.net