Sports stats

Knights Face Three Tough Foes This Week

March 12, 2007 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Abbotsford Heat News Release


With a five-game home stand now complete, the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights make a brief one-game road trip before returning to the Civic Auditorium for two more home games. The Knights will find themselves up against their nearest neighbors in the West Division standings when they visit Milwaukee on Wednesday before hosting Chicago on Friday and Peoria on Saturday. The Knights lost two of three games last week but maintained their spot in the second place in the division. They are now 38-21-3-1, good for 80 points. That puts them three points behind Chicago with three games in hand. The Knights also are six points ahead of third place Milwaukee with one game in hand. Peoria is eleven points behind the Knights with two games in hand. Tickets are on sale for all upcoming Knights' home games at the Omaha Civic Auditorium box office and all Ticketmaster outlets. Tickets may be purchased by phone at (402) 422-1212. Kids 12 and under get in free with an adult admission. Restrictions apply.

OPPONENTS THIS WEEK:

Wednesday, March 14 @ Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators/Edmonton Oilers), 7:00 p.m.

Ninth of ten meetings; fifth of five meetings in Milwaukee, WI

The Ak-Sar-Ben Knights make their final visit to Milwaukee during the regular season in the first game of the week. The Knights are 7-1-0-0 against the Admirals this season including a 4-0-0-0 mark at the Bradley Center. The Knights lead the all time series, 10-5-0-3. The two teams last met on February 23rd when the Knights earned a 1-0 win in Milwaukee. The Admirals start the week in third place in the West Division with a record of 32-22-4-6, good for 74 points. That puts them six behind the Knights. The Admirals are 15-12-3-1 at home this season. Rich Peverley leads Milwaukee in scoring with 64 points, but he is currently on recall to Nashville. Cal O'Reilly is second in scoring with 12 goals and 35 assists for 47 points. Goalie Pekka Rinne has played 17 games since returning from an off-season injury. He's 9-5-2 with a team-leading 2.60 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage. The Admirals do not play before hosting the Knights..

Friday, March 16 vs. Chicago Wolves (Atlanta Thrashers), 7:00 p.m.

Ninth of ten meetings; fifth of five meetings in Omaha

The Wolves make their final appearance in Omaha on Friday. After losing five straight to the West Division leaders, the Knights swept a pair of games in Chicago to burnish their record against the Wolves to 3-5-0-0 this season. They are 0-4-0-0 against them at the Civic and 8-10-0-0 against them all time. The Wolves lead the Knights by three points in the standings with a record of 38-21-2-5. They are an AHL-best 24-7-1-2 on the road this year. Darren Haydar leads the Wolves and the entire AHL in scoring with 32 goals and 64 assists for 96 points in 59 games. The assist total is also a league best. Rookie teammate Brett Sterling is second in team scoring and third in league scoring. He's got an AHL-high 46 goals and 79 points. Fred Brathwaite and Michael Garnett share time in the Wolves' goal. Brathwaite has 19 wins while Garnett has 18. Brathwaite leads the team with a 2.72 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage. The Wolves host Peoria before coming to Omaha.

Saturday, March 17 vs. Peoria Rivermen (St. Louis Blues), 7:00 p.m.

Eighth of ten meetings; fourth of five meetings in Omaha

The Knights finish the week against Peoria. The Knights snapped a 13-game losing streak to the Rivermen in the last meeting, winning 4-3 in a shootout on February 21st. The Knights are 1-4-2-0 against Peoria this year and 3-10-3-1 against them all time. They have never beaten Peoria at home (0-6-1-1). The Rivermen begin the week in fourth place in the West with a record of 31-23-2-5, good for 69 points. Trent Whitfield leads Peoria in scoring with 26 goals and 36 assists for 62 points. The assist total also paces the team. Charles Linglet leads the team with 28 goals. Marek Schwarz and Chris Beckford-Tseu split time in the Peoria net. Schwarz has a team-high 16 wins while Beckford-Tseu has a team-leading 2.40 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage. The Rivermen visit Chicago on Wednesday and Milwaukee on Friday before coming to Omaha.

THE WEEK AHEAD:

Monday, March 12--Practice @ OCA, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Tuesday, March 13--Practice @ OCA, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

Wednesday, March 14--Morning Skate @ BC, 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Game @ Milwaukee, 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, March 15--Practice TBA

Friday, March 16--Morning Skate @ OCA, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Game vs. Chicago, 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 17--Morning Skate @ OCA, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Game vs. Peoria, 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 18--Day Off

OCA - Omaha Civic Auditorium

BC - Bradley Center, Milwaukee

* - Times subject to change

IN THE COMMUNITY:

Television Appearance, March 12: Ak-Sar-Ben Knights' President Ren Smith and head coach Ryan McGill will be guests on the WOWT (Channel 6) Mid-day show at 11:30 a.m.

Sham-ROCK with the Knights, March 12: Ak-Sar-Ben Knights' players Carsen Germyn, Brandon Prust, Andrei Taratukhin and Dustin Boyd along with Knights' staff will take part in a bus tour around Omaha to publicize the upcoming St. Patrick's Day promotion, "Sham-ROCK with the Knights." The tour, beginning at 12:30 p.m. in The Old Market, will also visit Village Pointe at 2:00 p.m.

Alegent Health Fitness Program, March 12: Ak-Sar-Ben Knights' players Brent Krahn and Brad Ference and broadcaster Dave Ahlers will bring the Alegent Health Fitness program to the Conestoga Magnet School in Omaha at 2:00 p.m. The program encourages teamwork, sportsmanship and living a healthy life.



American Hockey League Stories from March 12, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Abbotsford Heat Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central