Manitoba Moose Update

The Manitoba Moose have been playing mediocre hockey for most of march. Sure they have won 9 of 14 games this month, however there was a stretch where they only won 1 game out of 5. Tonight they play the Rochester Amerk's in the second game of a double header. The Moose really have to take it to the Amerk's. The Amerk's have been hit by the casualty of having many of their players called up to the Florida Panthers late in the season. The Amerk's were competing for a playoff spot at the NHL trade deadline however have since lost 10 of 11 games. Dave Tallon (GM of the Florida Panthers is to blame) for trading away all his players at the deadline and then being forced to call players up from his AHL affiliate. Dave Tallon is an idiot that caused the Blackhawks to not be able to compete for the top spot in the league, by signing players to ridiculous contracts( Cambpell 7 mil a season, Huet 5 mil a season, Boland 3.75 million a season). It resulted in the blackhawks firing him, and having to trade away Versteeg, Ladd and Bifugly for virtually no return.

Tonight the Moose must take advantage of the Amerk's. It could be a great opportunity for players on the Moose to make a bid to play on the Canucks third line for the remainder of the season. The Vancouver Canucks are looking for a third line/fourth line player and a good night by Sweatt, Shirokov or Hodgson could go a long way in giving them an opportunity to take part in a long NHL playoff run. It's not something the Moose fans want to consider, losing one of their best players to the Canucks, but its something the Moose can afford to do because they have been scoring by committee all season. Shirokov, their leading goal scorer would be the biggest loss, but it is unlikely the Canucks would call him up because he is not a natural center which the Canucks are looking for. Eddy Lack will not be getting the start tonight, he will be rested as the Moose are on a stretch of hockey that see them play 6 games in eight nights.

I am expecting another great night from Rick Rypien. He has been playing with a lot of hockey smarts, always making smart first passes with the puck and getting involved any chance he can after the whistle, mixing it up with the other team. Cody Hodgson will have to have a better night tonight. With the Moose up 2-1 in the third period of last nights game, Cody Hodgson coughed the puck up while he was on the PP, allowing Thomas of the Amerk's to go in alone shorthanded on Lack and tie up the game late. Fortunately the combination of Yann Sauve and Bill Sweatt were able to combine for each of their second points of the night, and regain late in the game the win that Hodgson nearly threw away.

-Hark

Shirokov

Talk about a sheer goal scorer! The Manitoba Moose will really be missing their leading goal scorer now that sergie shirokov has been recalled by the canucks. no word yet where he's going to play. With Burrows being bumped from the top line with the Sedin's the other night against Minny there is a slim chance we could see Shirokov on the top line with the SEdin's at some point against Colorado, especially if things start going to shit.

The best thing that ever happened to Shirokov was Cody Hodgson fracturing his orbital bone. Shirokov has been on a 12 game point streak and has had the opportunity to double shift sometimes with the Moose.

This will be a great opportunity for Shirokov to get a taste of what its like to play in the NHL which will hopefully prevent him from going back to the KHL after the end of this year after his contract expires. I still don't foresee him being on the Canucks roster for very long this year. There might be room for him to play on the second line with kesler and raymond however as soon as he has a couple no shows in a row it will be back down to the Moose for him and we'll either call up hodgson, or get bolduc back by that time. no point in having Shirokov on the fourth line because hes not physical enough. Is he top nine in our depth charts?

1)daniel
2) henrik
3)kes
4) burrows
5) mayray
6) malholtra
7)tambellini
8) hansen
9) torres

I would say that he has the opportunity to fit in at around the seventh or the eight spot on the roster. This would force Gillis to either trade/waive tambellini (remember we cant send him down to the moose anymore without him being snatched up on waivers) or torres could be moved to the fourth/traded as well.

-hark