Hodgson’s Moose clinch playoff – Duchene’s Avs awaiting 2011 draft

Pro Report

Matt Duchene headed to the worlds. And my be a co-captain of the Avs.

By Terrance Gavan – Voice Sports

Talk about an embarrassment of riches.

The Vancouver Canucks clinched a playoff berth, oh, about three months ago.

And, their American Hockey League farm club Manitoba Moose – starring Haliburton’s Cody Hodgson – just secured their own playoff berth on national television last Sunday.

What does this mean for Vancouver’s future?

Well, good things obviously.

For Hodgson – who scored a goal in CBC’s televised game versus the Toronto Marlies on Sunday afternoon – it hearkens an old song.

“How ya’ gonna’ keep ‘em down on the farm after they’ve seen Hersheeeeeyyyyy?”

Okay, that would be Hershey Bears.

So now the Winnipeg Antlers are heading to the American Hockey League post-season after clinching that playoff spot with a 3-2 win over the Marlies on Sunday.

Manitoba’s triumvirate of rising farm boys, Sergei Shirokov, Hodgson and Marco Rosa all scored for the Moose who are now 43-28-7. Eddie Lack – who may be the next one in line to replace Roberto Longo – was superb in goal, making 39 saves.

With the win, the Moose are now alone in first place in the North Division, two points up on the Hamilton Bulldogs and three up on the Lake Erie Monsters.

The juke and jive for first place may come down to the final weekend when the Moose and Bulldogs play back-to-back games – Friday and Saturday April 8-9 – in Hamilton.

Hodgson is the third leading goal getter – 17 goals and 13 assist in 52 games – on the Moose this year.

Meanwhile the Haliburton Hurricane Matt Duchene continues to earn his paycheck.

Big time.

Matthew leads the Avs in scoring with 27 goals and 36 assists (63 points), which places him 33^rd overall in NHL scoring.

Great sophomore season personally, but sadly, the Avalanche are now just waiting to see what pick they’ll be getting in the upcoming 2011 June draft.

Last place does come with that one gilt-edged seam.

But you won’t, after a stunning playoff run just last year, find any of the Avs celebrating an early return to the links this spring.