Knights Ring In New Year With 4-2 Win Over Iowa

Published on January 1, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Abbotsford Heat News Release


Des Moines, IA - The Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights shook off an early two-goal deficit and roared back for a 4-2 win over the Iowa Stars in the final game of 2005. Carsen Germyn had a pair of goals including the game winner to power the Knights' attack.

The Stars struck first at 10:05 of the first period. Vojtech Polak brought the puck down the right wing and waited for Zack Stortini who threw a shot on goal. Several players crashed into goaltender Curtis McElhinney and the puck slipped behind him. Stortini got credit for the goal, his second of the year.

Iowa doubled its lead 1:29 later when Yan Stastny beat McElhinney with a wrist shot from the slot during a delayed penalty. That spelled the end of the night for McElhinney who gave up the two goals on three shots.

The Knights closed to within one goal midway through the second period. Brandon Prust threw the puck out in front to Brandon Rogers who had moved in from the point. His shot ricocheted off goalie Dan Ellis and right to Lynn Loyns who swept home his third goal of the year. The Knights trailed 2-1 after two.

The Knights tied the game just 1:03 into the third period. While on the powerplay, Mark Girodano threw a wrist shot past a screened Ellis for his eighth goal of the year. Giordano now has points in five of his last six games.

The deciding goal came off a strong forecheck by Prust. He knocked the puck away from Ellis who had gone behind his net to play it. He then fed in front to Germyn who rammed it into an empty net.

Germyn would add an empty net goal with 20 seconds left for his team-leading 17th goal of the year. The 4-2 win snapped the Knights' four-game winless streak against the Stars and evened the season series at four wins a piece. Brent Krahn earned the win in a relief role stopping all 20 shots he faced.

The Knights are now 15-14-1-7 and in sole possession of third place in the West Division. They return to home ice on Friday, January 6, 2006 when the Chicago Wolves come to town for a 7:00 p.m. face-off.

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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