Omaha Knights Win Back to Back on the Weekend
Two come from behind wins gave the Knights 4 points on the weekend. Warren Peters scored with just 2.2 seconds remaining in regulation to give the Knights a 4-3 win over the Grand Rapids Griffins on Saturday. It was the Knights’ first ever win against the Griffins, and it came in front of a sell-out crowd.
The final play of the game came in the last ten seconds when Matt Ellis was whistled for tripping. The Knights worked a perfect face-off play, and David Van der Gulik hit a streaking Peters who tipped the puck past a helpless Liv for the game winner.
The Knights dropped all four meetings with Grand Rapids last season, three by just one goal. They remain unbeaten in regulation this season, improving their record to 2-0-1-0.
The second game saw the Knights score four third-period goals to beat the Chicago Wolves 4-2 on Sunday night. The win, and Saturday’s 4-3 win at Grand Rapids, came against a team expected to be among the best in the American Hockey League this season.
The Knights had three powerplays in the first period but never scored. The 1-0 lead held until the third period when Kris Chucko broke in alone down the right wing. He faked a slap shot to get goalie Michael Garnett out of position before beating him with a wrist shot for his second goal in as many games.
The Knights took their first lead of the game at 8:36. Warren Peters was sprung down the left wing on a pass by David Van der Gulik. He lofted a pass to the slot that Cam Cunning tipped past Garnett to make it 2-1. It was also Cunning’s second straight game with a goal.
The eventual game winner came on the Knights’ eighth powerplay of the game. Dave Moss passed across the slot that Dustin Boyd slapped to the top shelf for his second goal of the season. Brad Ference picked up the other assist.
The Wolves pulled Garnett for an extra attacker and got the game back to within a goal when Darren Haydar converted a net-mouth scramble to make it 3-2.
But with Garnett still out, Brett Palin sent Justin Taylor away for an empty net goal to seal the win.
The Ak-Sar-Ben Knights are now 3-0-1-0 through the first two weeks of the regular season. Brent Krahn played both games.