Knights will look to snap three-game winless streak

Published on October 24, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Abbotsford Heat News Release


Omaha, NE - - The Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights have an opportunity to gain some ground in the West Division with three games against division opponents this week. The Knights visit the Iowa Stars on Tuesday, host the Chicago Wolves on Friday and then take a trip to see the Milwaukee Admirals on Saturday. The Knights earned two points in three games last week after back-to-back shootout losses to the division-leading Houston Aeros and a loss at Grand Rapids. The Knights are now 2-3-0-2 in the West Division, good for a tie with Iowa for fourth place. Tickets for Friday's game with Chicago are on sale all week at the Omaha Civic Auditorium box office from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 422-1212 and at Ticketmaster.com.

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS:

Tuesday, October 18: Houston Aeros 6, Ak-Sar-Ben Knights 5 SO

The Ak-Sar-Ben Knights erased a three-goal deficit in the third period but lost to the Aeros 6-5 in a shootout at the Civic Auditorium. Rookie left wing Dave Moss had two goals and defenseman Richie Regehr had three assists. It was the first shootout in Knights history. The Knights got off to a fast start when Warren Peters tipped home a shot by Brett Palin just 3:02 into the game. Only 1:03 later, the Knights tallied on the powerplay. Moss redirected a blast by Regehr past goaltender Josh Harding for his first professional goal and a 2-0 Omaha lead. The Aeros responded on two powerplays of their own. In each case, captain Kirby Law finished the play with a goal, his fourth and fifth of the year, to tie the game at two after one. Houston took its first lead of the game in the second period after being outplayed for most of the stanza. Kurtis Foster stole a clearing pass and beat goaltender Brent Krahn with a low wrist shot to make it 3-2 Aeros. He then ripped a bullet past Krahn during a powerplay in the final minute of the period to boost the Aeros' lead to 4-2 after two. When Patrick O'Sullivan scored even strength just 1:26 into the third period, the Aeros appeared to be comfortably on their way to a win. But the Knights kept working and eventually responded when Carsen Germyn got free and beat Harding with a wrist shot for his first goal of the season. Then in the final three minutes of regulation, the Knights got back-to-back five-on-three powerplays and cashed in each time. First, Moss knocked in his second goal of the night, converting a feed from Tomi Maki to make it 5-4. Mark Giordano finished the barrage with less than a minute to go, ripping a slap shot past Harding to make it 5-5. After a scoreless overtime, the Aeros scored on their first three shots of the shootout, but the Knights rallied on goals by Regehr and Darren Lynch. When Roman Voloshenko was turned aside by Krahn on the fifth Houston shot, it was up to Moss to net the equalizer. Harding forced him wide on a backhand attempt to help the Aeros earn the extra point and the win.

Thursday, October 20, 2005: Houston Aeros 4, Ak-Sar-Ben Knights 3 SO

For the second straight game, the Ak-Sar-Ben Knights and the Aeros played a game that featured each team coming from behind, a shootout and an Aeros' win. The Aeros beat the Knights 4-3 in the rematch. Maki had a goal and an assist for the Knights, and Erik Westrum scored the deciding goal in the sixth round of the shootout. Unlike Tuesday's game, the Aeros took the first lead. Petr Taticek opened the scoring with his first goal of the season at 7:42. One period later, Erik Reitz fired home a slapshot on the powerplay to put the Aeros up 2-0. The Knights answered back less than two minutes later. First, Regehr beat goalie Miroslav Kopriva with a booming shot for his first goal of the year. It came on a powerplay off assists from Maki and Giordano at 9:38. Just 50 seconds later, the Knights tied it when Cam Severson flew down the left wing and wristed the puck through the feet of Kopriva. Late in the second period, Omaha took its first lead of the game when Maki completed a nifty tic-tac-toe passing play with Brandon Prust and Moss for his second goal of the year. The Knights took a 3-2 lead into the second intermission. The game stayed that way until late in the third period when Foster beat a screened Krahn with a point shot to make it 3-3. It stayed that way through overtime in spite of an Omaha powerplay. In the shootout, each team scored on its third and fifth shots, forcing the sudden death sixth round. Westrum, the second leading scorer in the AHL, had been kept off the scoreboard but beat Krahn with a low wrist shot. Lynch was then turned aside on the ensuing shot for the Knights, giving the Aeros the win.

Saturday, October 22, 2005: Grand Rapids Griffins 3, Ak-Sar-Ben Knights 1

The Griffins broke open a tie game with two third period goals to beat the Ak-Sar-Ben Knights 3-1 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Goaltender Chris Osgood, in Grand Rapids on a conditioning stint from the Detroit Red Wings, stopped 35 shots to earn the victory. The Griffins struck first just 1:20 into the game when Kent McDonell banged home a rebound of a shot by Eric Manlow for his first goal of the season. The Knights responded just 1:02 later. Germyn carried the puck through the neutral zone and then ripped a shot from the blueline that broke off Osgood and trickled into the net. It was Germyn's second goal of the season. The game stayed tied for the next 40:06 until Nate DiCasmirro got free and beat goalie Curtis McElhinney with a backhander to put the Griffins back in the lead 2-1. DiCasmirro finished the scoring in the late going, netting an unassisted shorthanded goal at 17:28 of the third period. McElhinney was solid in net, making 25 saves. The Knights were held off the board on the powerplay, going 0 for 9.

THE WEEK AHEAD:

DAY/DATE EVENT TIME BROADCAST

Mon., October 24 Practice 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.

Tues., October 25 Morning Skate 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Game @ Iowa 7:00 p.m. 1420 AM, Web, B2

Wed., October 26 Practice 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Thurs., October 27 Practice 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Fri., October 28 Morning Skate 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Game vs. Chicago 7:00 p.m. 1420 AM, Web, B2

Sat., October 29 Game @ Milwaukee 7:00 p.m. 1420 AM, Web, B2

Sun., October 30 Day Off--Travel

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, October 25: @ Iowa Stars (Dallas Stars/Edmonton Oilers), 7:00 p.m.

Second meeting of ten; second of five in Des Moines

The Ak-Sar-Ben Knights return to the scene of their first franchise win for a mid-week match-up with their closest neighbors. The Knights beat the Stars 1-0 on October 8th. Captain Craig MacDonald, currently on recall to Calgary, had the only goal and goaltender Brent Krahn backed up the win with 36 saves. The Stars are tied with the Knights for fourth in the West Division with six points. The Stars are 3-3-0-0. They've won three straight games, including wins over Milwaukee and at Chicago last weekend, after losing their first three games. Veteran defenseman Patrick Traverse leads the stars with seven points, all assists. Center Toby Petersen leads the Stars with four goals. Iowa will be in Grand Rapids on Friday and in Chicago on Saturday to finish the week.

Friday, October 28: vs. Chicago Wolves (Atlanta Thrashers), 7:00 p.m.

Second meeting of ten; second of five in Omaha

The Chicago Wolves return to Omaha for the first time since Opening Night when they beat the Knights 5-2. Since that time, the Wolves have struggled, going 0-3-1-0. They're currently in sixth place in the West Division with a record of 1-3-1-0, good for three points. Scott Barney leads the team in scoring with three goals and three assists for six points. The goal total is also a team best. The defending Western Conference Champions recently picked up NHL veteran netminder Steve Shields. He shares the goaltending duties with Gregg Naumenko who has appeared in two games. Shields has started one contest. The Wolves are busy this week with four games in five days. They are in Houston on Tuesday and at San Antonio on Wednesday before coming to Omaha. They'll then travel home to host Iowa on Saturday.

Saturday, October 29: @ Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators), 7:00 p.m.

First meeting of ten; first of five in Milwaukee, WI

The Ak-Sar-Ben Knights will play the Admirals for the first time this season. The Nashville Predators' top development team still is looking for its first win of the 2005-2006 season. Milwaukee is 0-3-0-1 and in seventh place in the West Division. They last played on Friday, October 21, a 3-2 loss at Iowa. The Admirals have had the lightest schedule in the division to start the season. By the end of the month, they will have played only six games. By comparison, the Knights will have played ten. Scottie Upshall leads the Admirals in scoring with a goal and three assists for four points in four games. Brandon Segal leads the team with three goals. Pekka Rinne has seen most of the time in the Milwaukee net, posting a 2.45 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage in four games. The Admirals host Houston on Friday before welcoming the Knights.

KNIGHTS NOTES:

Rookie wing Dave Moss earned his first two professional goals in the Knights' 6-5 shootout loss to the Houston Aeros on October 18th.

Defenseman Richie Regehr set a team season-high with three assists in the game against Houston on October 18th.

Rookies Eric Nystrom, Brett Palin and Brandon Prust each earned their first professional points last week, all assists. Palin earned his on October 18th against Houston. Nystrom and Prust each did it against Houston in the game on October 20th.

Rookie Tomi Maki had his first multiple point night with a goal and an assist against Houston on October 20th.

After scoring first in four straight games, the Knights have surrendered the first goal in their last two games.

TRANSACTIONS:

10/23/05 DELETE Darren Lynch (RW), returned on loan to Las Vegas (ECHL)

10/23/05 DELETE Craig MacDonald (C), recalled from loan by Calgary (NHL)

IN THE COMMUNITY: Youth Hockey, Monday, October 24: Knights' wing Dave Moss and defenseman Brandon Rogers are scheduled to practice with the O.M.A.H.A. Omaha Junior Maverick Squirt AA team, a travel team of nine and ten-year-olds, at the Benson Park Ice Arena at 6:15 p.m. The arena is located at 69th Street and Military Avenue in Omaha.

Radio Appearance, Friday, October 28: Knights' players will be appearing on The Brew, 96.1 FM on Friday morning at 8:00 a.m. to take part in "Game Show Friday."

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.

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 October 24, 2005


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