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Published Sunday February 19, 2006 Knights top Hamilton for 5th straight victory
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HAMILTON, Ontario - Newcomer Ajay Baines scored a key short-handed goal in the third period and the streaking Ak-Sar-Ben Knights beat Hamilton 5-2 Saturday night at Copps Coliseum for their fifth straight American Hockey League victory.

The win allowed Omaha (23-23-2-7) to move into sole possession of fourth place and the final playoff position in the AHL Western Division, two points ahead of Iowa. The Stars lost 4-3 Saturday night at home to Houston.

After a scoreless first period, Montreal's top farm team struck first as right-winger Duncan Milroy scored his 13th of the season, beating Omaha goalie Curtis McElhinney 2:37 into the period. But the Knights responded with three straight goals to take the lead for good, including Lynn Loyns' goal only 34 seconds after Milroy's.

"After (Milroy's) goal, we came on pretty good," Omaha coach Ryan McGill said. "I liked the way we came right back and scored on the next shift."

David Moss, who earned the No. 1 star for the second straight game, broke the tie 11 minutes later with his 14th of the year on a power play. Richie Regehr and Zenith Komarniski assisted.

Cam Severson made it 3-1 by beating Hamilton goalie Yann Danis with 50 seconds remaining in the period.

After the Bulldogs (22-32-0-3) trimmed Omaha's lead to 3-2 early in the third, Baines scored his first goal with his new team at the 6:12 mark with assists from Eric Nystrom and Mark Giordano.

"(Hamilton) turned the puck over in the neutral zone, and Nystrom gave it to Baines. He just outraced the defenseman and beat (Danis) to the stick side," McGill said.

Team captain Craig MacDonald, with Moss and Giordano assisting, wrapped things up with a power-play goal with 8:56 left.

McElhinney, filling in for starter Brent Krahn, stopped 22 of 25 shots. The Knights also went 2 for 5 on the power play, while Hamilton was 0 for 7.

The two teams finish their two-game series this afternoon at 3.

Omaha (23-23-2-7).........................0 3 2-5
At Hamilton (22-32-0-3).........................0 1 1-2
• First period-None.
• Second period-Hamilton, Milroy (Lapierre, Jacques), 2:37; Omaha, Loyns (unass.), 3:11; Omaha, Moss (pp) (Regehr, Komarniski), 14:34; Omaha, Severson (Taylor, MacDonald), 19:10.
• Third period-Hamilton, Jerland (Vandemeer, Hunter), 2:49; Omaha, Baines (sh) (Nystrom, Giordano), 6:12; Omaha, MacDonald (pp) (Moss, Giordano), 11:04.
• Shots on goal-Omaha 16-8-13-37; Hamilton 10-6-9-25.
• Power plays-Omaha 2-5; Hamilton 0-7.
• Goalies-Omaha, McElhinney (25 shots, 23 saves, 60:00); Hamilton, Danis (37 shots, 32 saves, 60:00).
• Penalties-Omaha 9/21 minutes; Hamilton 7/17 minutes.
• Three stars-1. Moss (O); 2. MacDonald (O); 3. Ferland (H).
• Attend.-6,899.

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