» MAIN » 2005-06 Schedule

Published Wednesday December 14, 2005 Calgary lends a forward to help struggling Knights BY JOE CLARK
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

		RELATED LINKS
		»	AHL
		»	Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights
		»	W-H News Extra: Omaha Ak-Sar Ben Knights

They've gone five straight at home without a win, so it goes without saying the Ak-Sar-Ben Knights will take any Christmas present thrown their way.

Calgary star Matthew Lombardi, who has missed the past eight weeks with a high ankle sprain, will center the Knights' top line tonight.

But even the Omaha brass admits that getting one of Calgary's top nine forwards - even for one game - is a better-than-average gift for a struggling team.

High-flying forward Matthew Lombardi, who has missed the past eight weeks with a high ankle sprain, reported to Omaha on Monday evening and will center the Knights' top line tonight against Milwaukee. He's scheduled to return to Calgary on Thursday and be in its lineup for a Saturday home game against the Boston Bruins.

Lombardi, who will center Carsen Germyn and Eric Nystrom, has had a rough go of it with injuries. He battled post-concussion syndrome after taking a big hit during the playoffs two years ago, which limited him to nine AHL games during last year's lockout season.

AHL tonight • Who: Knights vs. Milwaukee • When: 7 p.m. • Where: Omaha Civic Auditorium • Records: Milwaukee (16-6-1-1); Omaha 12-11-0-5) • Radio: KOTK-1420 AM

As rusty as he was, he fought his way back into Calgary's lineup this fall before bad ice and bad luck did him in.

"My skate hit a rut. . . . It was a pretty bad injury," Lombardi said. "But I've been skating for about two weeks in Calgary. It's probably not going to feel perfect for another couple of months, but it's coming."

Germyn is familiar with Lombardi. Omaha's leading scorer, like a few other Knights, skated with Lombardi in Lowell last season.

"His game is about speed . . . just watch how fast he is," Germyn said. "And he has a great shot. There should be more chances (for us)."

Calgary has the week off and doesn't play until Saturday's home game against Boston.

"That's part of the affiliation that works out," Omaha President Doug Soetaert said. "To get a player of his caliber to come in and play a game . . . and be able to expose him to our fans will definitely help this hockey club."

Lombardi is only the third transaction between Calgary and Omaha - an unusually low number. Nystrom, a rookie forward, was called up early in the season and played in two games for Calgary. Omaha captain Craig MacDonald was promoted in October and has been there ever since. Most teams make at least a dozen moves by mid-December.

"That just shows the kind of job that Darryl (Sutter) has done in selecting his team up top," Soetaert said. "When there's injuries, players are going to be moving around. But in Calgary, there haven't been a lot of injuries."

And the Flames have been winning. They are in first place in the NHL's Northwest Division with an 18-9-4 record.

• NOTES: The Knights will also get a boost at the blue line tonight against the Admirals with the return of Richie Regehr. Regehr, who is tied for third in scoring for the Knights (3-11-14), has missed the past three games with a strained left knee. . . . The Knights will conduct their own "Teddy Bear Toss" to benefit Toys for Tots during Saturday's home game against Iowa. Fans can bring their own or purchase bears ($5) at the Civic and throw them onto the ice after Omaha's first goal against the Stars.

Contact the Omaha World-Herald newsroom

Copyright ©2005 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or distributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.