Moose Update For The Week Of 11/01/09 – 11/07/09

Were the Manitoba Moose able to win their first game in regulation since mid-October? Find out below in this update for the week of November 1, 2009 to November 7, 2009. For those looking for a more statistical look at how the Moose did during the past week, please visit that version of this report at Hockey’s Future Vancouver Canucks message board.

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The Week That Was

The Manitoba Moose and Norfolk Admirals faced off for the first time ever, just over eight years after the Moose entered the AHL from the now-defunct International Hockey League (IHL). The Ads made their presence felt early into their first visit to the MTS Centre, as former Brandon Wheat King Ryan Craig scored off a rebound just 1:29 in to give his team a 1-0 lead. Just past the halfway mark of the first, Matt McCue one-timed Tommy Maxwell’s pass from behind the net to even up the game at one. For those keeping track, this was the first goal and points scored by the fourth line this season, a period of 15 games. The score stayed even until the early stages of the third, when Brandon Bochenski converted on the power play to put the Admirals up for good. Paul Szczechura added an empty-netter late in the game to give Norfolk a 3-1 win over Manitoba.

Canucks Sign Pettinger; Moose Bring Back Latendresse

After a short stint with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose, the parent Vancouver Canucks have signed left winger Matt Pettinger to a contract. The details of Pettinger’s contract have not been released, as per team policy.

The move to bring Pettinger in was brought about by the injury bug that has hit the Canucks hard this season. Currently, there are at least seven players (Roberto Luongo, Daniel Sedin, Pavol Demitra, Ryan Johnson, Jannik Hansen, Alexandre Bolduc, and now Michael Grabner) out with various types of injuries, leaving the team with 11 healthy forwards. In total, the Canucks have lost 75 man-games due to injury and have not had less than three players on their injured list, yet somehow have an 8-7 record.

Moose Update For The Week Of 10/25/09 – 10/31/09

The Manitoba Moose concluded their busiest month of the season last week. Were they able to resolve their offensive woes, despite missing nearly half their lineup? Find out below in this update for the week of October 25, 2009 to October 31, 2009. For those looking for a more statistical look at how the Moose did during the past week, please visit that version of this report at Hockey’s Future Vancouver Canucks message board.

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The Week That Was

The Manitoba Moose entered Thursday’s game against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins down eight regulars from their lineup. Four of those players (Michael Grabner, Sergei Shirokov, Alexandre Bolduc, and Cory Schneider) were up with the big club; three (Lawrence Nycholat, Matt Pope, and Eric Walsky) were out with injuries/aimlents; and Nathan McIver was out due to a one-game suspension he received for a hit he delivered on Chicago Wolves forward Angelo Esposito last week.

Bliznak, Shirokov Switch Places

The Vancouver Canucks announced today that they have recalled centre Mario Bliznak from the Manitoba Moose of the AHL, while at the same time sending down forward Sergei Shirokov to the Moose. This will be Bliznak’s first recall to the NHL.

Bliznak, 22, has played in 13 games for the Manitoba Moose this season, picking up five points (2-3-5) and a +1 plus/minus rating. The second-year pivot from Slovakia has mostly played on the third line with the Moose, paired up with veteran right winger Mike Keane.

Luongo Out…But For How Long?

As the old saying goes, if it wasn’t for bad luck, they would have no luck at all. According to the Vancouver Province, Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo will miss an undetermined number of games with an undisclosed injury. This happens on the heels of forward Ryan Johnson getting injured last night after sliding hard (and awkwardly) into the end boards. It’s still unknown how severe his injuries are, but he was able to move all his extremities afterward, so it appears it’s not as bad as it could have been.

The Canucks have already lost 55 man-games between seven players this season. Pavol Demitra and Jannik Hansen have both missed all 12 games this season, while Mathieu Schneider was out for the first ten games before coming back on October 25th. Others who are currently on the injured list include Daniel Sedin (eight games), Sami Salo (seven games), Rick Rypien (four games), and Kyle Wellwood (two games).

Moose’s McIver Suspended

The American Hockey League announced today that they have suspended Manitoba Moose defenceman Nathan McIver for one game due to a hit he delivered during Manitoba’s 1-0 shootout win over the Chicago Wolves.

McIver, 24, will miss Thursday’s game against the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins at the MTS Centre. The Summerside, P.E.I. native has played in 11 of Manitoba’s 12 games so far this season, picking up three assists and 33 penalty minutes.

Shirokov Moving Up As Injuries Pile Up

With yet another player going down with an injury, the Vancouver Canucks have recalled forward Sergei Shirokov from the Manitoba Moose of the AHL. The move comes as news comes out that Canucks forward Kyle Wellwood suffered a broken toe after blocking a shot by Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Mike Komisarek last night. Wellwood played the rest of Saturday’s game, which the Canucks won 3-1, but his foot swelled up after he took off his skate after the game.

Shirokov, 23, has played in ten games for the Moose this season, picking up ten points (4-6-10) and 24 shots on net. He currently leads the Moose in points (10), and sits in a tie for first in goals (4), assists (6) and power play goals (2). His ten points also place him in a tie for first in AHL rookie scoring.

Moose Update For The Week Of 10/18/09 – 10/24/09

The Manitoba Moose had a week that saw more than one of their games go past regulation, as well as a severe power outage of the scoring variety. For those looking for a more statistical look at how the Moose did during the week of October 18, 2009 to October 24, 2009, please visit that version of this report at Hockey’s Future Vancouver Canucks message board.

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The Week That Was

The Moose started the week off with a pair of games at Copps Coliseum against the Hamilton Bulldogs. The first game on Monday didn’t see a goal until the third period, when Sergei Shirokov put the Moose ahead 1-0 near the seven-minute mark of the third. Hamilton forward Ryan Russell evened up the game at one almost exactly two minutes later, and the game went to overtime. In the extra frame, Nolan Baumgartner picked a fine time to score his first goal of the season, giving Manitoba its first overtime win of the season. Of note aside from those detail in the game, Cory Schneider faced his first penalty shot of the season, and was able to brush aside Ryan White’s attempt that occurred in the first period.