OMAHA, Neb. (CP) - Jannik Hansen scored the game-winning goal on a strange play as the Manitoba Moose earned a 3-2 American Hockey League win over the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights on Saturday.
The deciding goal came 20 seconds into the third period. Knights defenceman Brad Ference tried to carry the puck behind his goal, but the puck stopped dead in a puddle of water next to the net. Jason Jaffray stole it and spotted Hansen in the slot who buried the puck behind Omaha goaltender Brent Krahn.
The Knights opened the scoring on a first-period power play. Chris Lee's shot attempt was stopped by Moose goaltender Drew MacIntyre, but Dustin Boyd collected the rebound to put the Knights ahead with his 26th goal of the season.
Manitoba would reply with a power play goal of its own at 12:58 of the first period. An Omaha clearing attempt was batted down at the blue-line, and the puck bounced onto the stick of Lee Goren who put the puck past Krahn.
The Moose took the lead before the end of the first period as Jesse Schultz made his way through the Knights' defence and released a quick wrist shot over the glove of Krahn.
After Hansen made it 3-1 Manitoba, Kris Chucko cut the lead to one when his pass was deflected off a Manitoba player and past MacIntyre.