Knights Jockey For Playoff Position

Published on April 10, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Abbotsford Heat News Release


The Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights will have a chance to secure first place overall in the Western Conference when they take to the ice for the final four games of the regular season this week. The Knights earned seven out of a possible eight points last week to challenge the Manitoba Moose for the top spot. Omaha is now 46-24-5-1 following wins over Iowa, Manitoba and San Antonio and an overtime loss to Houston. With 98 points, the Knights are just two points behind Manitoba with two games in hand. They are also just one point ahead of second-place Chicago with a game in hand. The Knights will host San Antonio on Tuesday and Peoria on Friday to conclude the home half of their schedule. They'll finish the season in Peoria on Saturday and in Chicago on Sunday. 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:

Tuesday, April 10 vs. San Antonio Rampage (Phoenix Coyotes), 7:00 p.m.

Tenth of ten meetings; fifth of five meetings in Omaha

The Knights and Rampage finally play a game that was originally scheduled for December 22nd. The game was postponed because of weather. It's also the last game of the season series. The Knights are 6-2-1-0 against the Rampage following a 1-0 win last Friday. That includes a record of 3-1-0-0 at home. All time, the Knights hold the advantage at 12-5-1-1. San Antonio begins the week in sixth place in the West Division with a record of 31-40-2-4, good for 68 points. The Rampage are 12-23-1-2 on the road this year. Yanick Lehoux leads the Rampage in scoring with 31 goals and 40 assists for 71 points. His goal and assist totals are also team bests. Josh Tordjman and David LeNeveu share the goaltending duties. Tordjman is 15-17-2 with a 2.54 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage. San Antonio does not play before visiting the Knights.

Friday, April 13 vs. Peoria Rivermen (St. Louis Blues), 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 14 @ Peoria Rivermen (St. Louis Blues), 7:00 p.m.

Ninth and tenth of ten meetings; fifth of five meetings in Omaha and Peoria, IL

The Knights play a home-and-home series with the Rivermen to conclude their season series. The Knights are 1-5-2-0 against Peoria this season and 0-4-0-0 against them at home. They are 1-1-2-0 at Carver Arena in Peoria. All time, the Knights are just 3-11-3-1 against Peoria. The Rivermen enter the final week of the regular season still battling for a playoff spot. They are in fifth place with a record of 36-32-2-6, good for 80 points. That puts them four points behind Iowa in the West and three behind Grand Rapids in the North. Trent Whitfield leads the team in scoring with 32 goals and 44 assists for 76 points. The goal and assist totals are also team bests. Rookie Marek Schwarz leads Peoria's goaltending corps with a record of 19-13-0. The Rivermen host Milwaukee on Wednesday before visiting Omaha.

Sunday, April 15 @ Chicago Wolves (Atlanta Thrashers), 5:00 p.m.

Tenth of ten meetings; fifth of five meetings in Chicago, IL

The Knights finish the regular season with the Wolves. The Knights are 3-5-1-0 against the Wolves this season including a record of 3-1-0-0 in Chicago. All time, the Knights are 8-10-1-0 against the Wolves. Chicago begins the week in second place in the West Division with a record of 44-24-3-6, good for 97 points. They trail the Knights by just one point, but they've played one more game. Darren Haydar leads the Wolves and the entire AHL in scoring with 39 goals and 77 assists for 116 points in 70 games. Rookie Brett Sterling is second with 93 points including a team- and AHL-leading 52 goals. Fred Brathwaite and Michael Garnett share time in the Wolves' net. Brathwaite has 21 wins while Garnett has 22. Brathwaite has a team-best 2.81 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage. The Wolves visit Milwaukee on Friday and host Iowa on Saturday before welcoming the Knights.

THE WEEK AHEAD:

Monday, April 9 - Practice @ OCA, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Tuesday, April 10 - Morning Skate @ OCA, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Game vs. San Antonio - 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, April 11 - Practice @ OCA, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Thursday, April 12 - Practice @ OCA, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Friday, April 13 - Morning Skate @ OCA, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

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

Saturday, April 14 - Game @ Peoria, 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 15 - Game @ Chicago, 5:00 p.m.

OCA - Omaha Civic Auditorium

* - Times subject to change

IN THE COMMUNITY:

Alegent Health Fitness Program, April 12: The Ak-Sar-Ben Knights will bring their school assembly program to the St. Phillip Neri School in Omaha at 2:00 p.m.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 10, 2007


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