MANITOBA 5, TORONTO 1
Regular-season champion Manitoba evened its North Division semifinal series with a 5-1 road win over Toronto at Ricoh Coliseum on Tuesday. The Moose had entered the contest having totaled seven goals in the first three games of the series.
The best-of-7 series is now deadlocked at two games apiece, with Game 5 set for Thursday in Toronto before it returns to Winnipeg for Game 6 on Saturday.
The teams played a scoreless opening 20 minutes, but Manitoba struck for three scores in the second period. Mark Fistric and Maxime Fortunus netted power play tallies, and Jason Jaffray scored at even strength in the frame’s closing minute.
Greg Rallo and Mark Cullen added third-period tallies for Manitoba. Jaffray, Fistric, and Fortunus each had a goal and a helper in the victory, and Jason Krog contributed a pair of assists.
Moose goaltender Cory Schneider made 20 saves in net to pick up the win, as Manitoba held a 34-21 edge in shots on goal.
This marked the fourth consecutive playoff series under head coach Scott Arniel that the Moose trailed 2-1, and the fourth straight time that they captured Game 4 to even it up.
Bates Battaglia notched a second-period power play goal for the Marlies’ lone score of the night.
