Knights' drive for playoffs hits final week

Published on April 10, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Abbotsford Heat News Release


Omaha, NE - The Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights have four games to play in their first regular season in the American Hockey League and in that time, they've got to earn enough points to put themselves in the Calder Cup Playoffs. The Knights picked up just one points after a loss at Chicago, an overtime loss to Iowa and back-to-back losses to Peoria. They begin the week tied with the Chicago Wolves for fifth place in the West Division with a record of 34-29-3-10, good for 81 points. That puts them three points behind the Iowa Stars for the last playoff berth. The Knights will finish the regular season with two games at Houston and two more at San Antonio.

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS:
Wednesday, April 5: Chicago Wolves 3, Ak-Sar-Ben Knights 1
Chicago earned the early lead in the last meeting of the year when Karl Stewart scored shorthanded in the first period. The Wolves held the lead until late in the third period when Brandon Prust converted the rebound of a shot by Mark Giordano to make it 1-1. The Wolves got two late powerplays and converted both to win 3-1. The Knights finished with a record of 5-5-0-0 against the Wolves.

Friday, April 7: Iowa Stars 3, Ak-Sar-Ben Knights 2 OT
In the battle for the upper hand in the playoff race, the Stars struck first when Loui Eriksson scored at 16:34. The Knights responded just 1:18 later when Ajay Baines scored. They took the lead less than a minute later when Carsen Germyn fired home his team-leading 23rd goal of the year. The Stars tied the game 44 seconds into the third period on a goal by Dan Jancevski. The Stars won in overtime when Brian Fahey's shot beat Brent Krahn through traffic. Each team earned five wins in the season series.

Saturday, April 8: Peoria Rivermen 5, Ak-Sar-Ben Knights 1
The Rivermen raced out to a 3-0 lead on a first period goal from Brendan Buckley and two powerplay goals in the second from Mike Zigomanis. Cam Cunning cut the lead to 3-1 when he beat Chris Beckford-Tseu with a snap shot from the right wing. Peoria responded in the third with another powerplay tally from Zigomanis and a man advantage marker from Jon DiSalvatore. Peoria won all five games in Omaha.

Sunday, April 9: Peoria Rivermen 4, Ak-Sar-Ben Knights 1
The Knights grabbed the lead 69 seconds into the game when Steve Bancroft converted the rebound of a shot by Eric Nystrom to make it 1-0. Cam Keith tied the game early in the second with an unassisted goal, and Gavin Morgan put the Rivermen up 2-1 with a goal halfway through the period. David Backes scored off a feed from Mike Zigomanis in the third. Peter Sejna completed the scoring with a powerplay tally less than two minutes later. The Rivermen won eight of the ten meetings with the Knights.

THE WEEK AHEAD:
DAY/DATE EVENT TIME BROADCAST
Mon., Apr. 10 Travel Day
Tues., Apr. 11 Morning Skate @ TC 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Game @ Houston 7:00 p.m. 1420 AM, Web, B2
Wed., Apr. 12 Day Off
Thurs., Apr. 13 Practice @ SIA TBA
Fri., Apr. 14 Morning Skate @ TC 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Game @ Houston 7:35 p.m. 1420 AM, Web, B2
Sat., Apr. 15 Morning Skate @ ATTC 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Game @ San Antonio 7:00 p.m. 1420 AM, Web, B2
Sun., Apr. 16 Game @ San Antonio 4:00 p.m. 1420 AM, Web, B2

Legend
TC--Toyota Center
SIA--Sugarland Ice Arena
ATTC--AT & T Center
Web-Free live audio broadcast of game at omahaaksarbenknights.com (Choose "Listen Live" link from home page)
B2-B2 Networks live, pay-per-view webcast, available at omahaaksarbenknights.com for $6 per game by clicking on B2 Networks link.

OPPONENTS THIS WEEK:
Tuesday, April 11; Friday, April 14 @ Houston Aeros (Minnesota Wild), 7:00 p.m. (Tues.), 7:35 p.m. (Fri.)
Ninth and tenth meetings of ten; fourth and fifth of five meetings in Houston, TX
The Ak-Sar-Ben Knights play their final two games in Houston this week. After losing the first five meetings, the Knights have won three straight against the Minnesota Wild's top prospects. Omaha's head-to-head record is 3-2-1-2. All three wins came at the Civic Auditorium. The Aeros begin the week in second place in the West Division with a record of 47-23-3-3, good for 100 points. That puts them four points behind first place Milwaukee with two games in hand. The Aeros are 2-5-2-1 in their last ten games. Kirby Law leads the Aeros and the league in scoring with 41 goals and 65 assists for 106 points. He's fourth in AHL goals and first in assists. Teammate Erik Westrum, just returned from Minnesota, is second in scoring with 32 goals and 94 points. That's good for third in AHL scoring. Seamus Kotyk and Miroslav Kopriva share the duties in goal. Kotyk has played in 33 games, earning a record of 14-14-2 with a 3.00 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage. The Aeros do not play before hosting the Knights on Tuesday.

Saturday & Sunday, April 15 & 16 @ San Antonio Rampage (Phoenix Coyotes), 7:00 p.m. (Sat.); 4:00 p.m. (Sun.)
Ninth and tenth meetings of ten; fourth and fifth of five meetings in San Antonio, TX
The Knights finish the regular season with two games against the Phoenix Coyotes' top prospects. The Rampage are seventh in the West Division with a record of 22-47-3-4, good for 51 points. They are 1-8-1-0 in their last ten games. Layne Ulmer leads the Rampage in scoring with 17 goals and 26 assists for 43 points. The assist total is also a team best. Pavel Brendl is second in scoring with 35 points in 60 games including a team high 19 goals. Karl Goehring and Scott Stirling make up San Antonio's goaltending tandem. Goehring has appeared in 21 games, posting a record of 4-14-1 with a 3.08 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage. The Rampage visit Peoria on Tuesday and Grand Rapids on Friday before hosting the Knights.

KNIGHTS NOTES:
Knights' defenseman Mark Giordano earned his first NHL point, notching an assist on a powerplay goal by Jerome Iginla on Saturday in the Calgary Flames' game against Vancouver.

Rookie Adam Cracknell made his professional debut on Friday against the Iowa Stars.

After winning just eight of their first 26 home games, the Knights finished 8-2-1-3 in their final 14 to ensure themselves of a winning record at the Omaha Civic Auditorium.

TRANSACTIONS:
4/4/06 DELETE Lynn Loyns (LW), recalled from loan by Calgary (NHL)
4/4/06 ADD Carsen Germyn (RW), returned on loan by Calgary (NHL)
4/6/06 DELETE Mark Giordano (D), recalled from loan by Calgary (NHL)
4/6/06 ADD Adam Cracknell (RW), re-assigned from Kootenay (WHL)
4/7/06 ADD Jan Vodrazka (D), recalled from Greenville (ECHL) and signed to PTO*
4/7/06 ADD Steeve Villeneuve (D), recalled from Long Beach (ECHL) and signed to PTO*
4/8/06 DELETE Jan Vodrazka (D), released from PTO
4/8/06 ADD Steve Marr (D), recalled from loan to Las Vegas (ECHL)

* Emergency Conditions

IN THE COMMUNITY:
Radio Appearance, Wednesday, April 12: Knights' play-by-play voice Dave Ahlers will be appearing on Pinnacle Sports Network's "Sports Nightly" program (KFAB AM 1110 in Omaha) at 6:40 p.m. He will speak about the Knights' season to date and look forward to the upcoming week.

The Ak-Sar-Ben Knights' Speakers Bureau is available to provide speakers to local businesses, civic and church groups and other interested organizations holding weekly or monthly meetings and special events. There is no charge for this program. For more information on the Speakers Bureau or to schedule an appearance for your group's next meeting, call Dave Ahlers at (402) 344-GOAL or contact him by e-mail at dahlers@omahaaksarbenknights.com.

AK-SAR-BEN KNIGHTS TEAM STATISTICS (As of 4.10.06):
Click here to view Ak-Sar-Ben Knights player stats. Click here to view Ak-Sar-Ben Knights goalie stats.

OMAHAAKSARBENKNIGHTS.COM
The Ak-Sar-Ben Knights' official web site, omahaaksarbenknights.com, is the comprehensive source for all information about the Knights during the season. Log on for player bios and stats, game recaps, a list of community appearances, stats, photos, great downloads and live links to listen to and watch Ak-Sar-Ben Knights' hockey all season.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 10, 2006


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