Knights Blank Barons, 5-0
March 11, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Abbotsford Heat News Release
Omaha, NE - Curtis McElhinney made 28 saves, and the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights got goals from five different players to beat the Cleveland Barons 5-0 on Saturday night at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. The win and the Iowa Stars' loss in San Antonio now gives the Knights a three-point advantage over the Stars in the race for the final playoff spot in the West Division.
Warren Peters opened the scoring for the Knights at 4:46, tipping a pass from Zenith Komarniski out of the air and past goalie Jamie Holden for his eleventh goal of the year.
Ajay Baines doubled that lead later in the period. He took a rink-wide pass from Derek Couture, sprinted down the right wing and threw a shot past Holden to make it 2-0 after one.
The Knights went up 3-0 on a powerplay early in the second period. Carsen Germyn got free at the left face-off circle and fired home a bullet shot for his team-leading 22nd goal of the year.
Less than four minutes later, the Knights lit the lamp again. During a delayed penalty, Steve Bancroft took a shot from the left point. Holden made the initial save, but Brandon Prust pounced on the rebound for his eighth goal of the year.
The final goal came in the third period. While killing off a penalty, Craig MacDonald got free for a breakaway but was hooked off the puck. He was awarded a shorthanded penalty shot and scored when his shot hit the post, bounced off the back of Holden and trickled into the net. It was the second penalty shot and second penalty shot goal the Knights have had this year. Both have come at Cleveland's expense.
The shutout was the third of the year for McElhinney and the sixth of the season for the Knights.
The Knights won both games of the season series with the Barons. Omaha is now 28-25-2-8. The Knights finish their season-high five-game home stand Sunday against the Houston Aeros at 5:00 p.m. Their final 17 games are all against teams from their own division.
Tickets for all home games are on sale at the Civic Auditorium box office, Monday through Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., on Sunday from noon through game time and at all Ticketmaster outlets. Tickets may be purchased by calling 422-1212 or at Ticketmaster.com.
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American Hockey League Stories from March 11, 2006
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- Sound Tigers Bite Back - Norfolk Admirals
- Hamilton Takes 5-0 Win - Adirondack Phantoms
- Dogs' Blank Phantoms 5-0 - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Sound Tigers Earn Split In Norfolk - Bridgeport Islanders
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- Center Dan Fritsche Recalled By Columbus - Syracuse Crunch
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- Return of the Mac - Chicago Wolves
- Michaud assigned to Long Beach - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Canucks Re-Assign Butenschon to Moose - Manitoba Moose
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