ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Jason King can finally go to sleep thinking good thoughts about the Rochester Americans.

King, who spent the better part of a year tossing and turning with visions of the Americans pounding around his mind, scored the third and final goal in last night's 3-1 win over the Amerks before 5,107 at Blue Cross Arena.

The fourth-year pro was injured late last spring in a game against the Amerks when defenceman Doug Janik caught King in the jaw without the puck and his head down.

The resulting concussion cost King 10 months on the shelf and last night was just his sixth game back since the injury and his first against the Amerks.

"It's a good step. It's not very easy to come back to play against a team that you suffered a major injury against, and I'm glad to have it behind me," said King, who now has four goals in six games this year. "This was a good team win and that's the first thing we take from (last) night, but personally, it's good to have it over."

King has been settling into the Moose dressing room and lineup over the last month and was given concrete evidence of what his teammates think of him late in the first period.

Amerks defenceman Nathan Paetsch didn't like the way King had slashed him and followed him up the ice tugging at his jersey and jawing away in an attempt to start a fight. King's linemate Jason Jaffray, not known for his ability to fight, quickly stepped in and squared off with Paetsch.

"That shows the character of a team and the leadership we have. Jaffs did a great job and jumped in. It makes you feel good to know your teammates are looking out for you," said King.

Jaffray said there was a line of guys ready to help out; he was just there first.

"Fighting's not really part of my game. It's something I'll do if I have to," offered Jaffray. "In that situation, with the injury Kinger's coming off, it's a no-brainer. "Paetsch isn't really a fighter either. I played against him for many years in the Western league (WHL) and he's not a fighter; it was just a situation where he didn't like a slash. But there were 15 other guys ready to do what I did. I was just coming off the bench and got there before anyone else."

The win was the fifth in a row for the Moose as they kicked off a road trip that will see them play four games in five nights in four different cities. The club was to travel to Philadelphia today and will face the Phantoms at the fabled Spectrum on Friday night.

Manitoba has gone four straight on the road without a win dating back to Dec. 11, making last night's W a big one in the club's mind.

The Moose moved into a 1-0 lead at 8:41 of the second period on the power play. The Amerks had a pair of players in the penalty box and the Moose took advantage of the 5-on-3 situation as Jesse Schultz potted his team-leading 22nd goal of the season. Moose defenceman Prestin Ryan found Schultz to the right of Rochester goalie Michael Leighton and the Saskatchewan-born sniper ripped a shot in.

Rochester evened the score at 1-1 as rookie Clarke MacArthur scored his sixth of the season. Moose defenceman Tomas Mojzis made a poor clearing attempt that Rochester forward Jiri Novotny gobbled up before finding MacArthur in the slot.

The member of Canada's 2005 gold-medal-winning national junior team beat veteran Wade Flaherty from in close at 7:31 of the second period.

The Moose waited just 17 seconds before regaining their lead as Ryan floated a wrist shot from the point that eluded traffic and Leighton.

King made it 3-1 at 10:27 of the final period as he fired a shot from in close on Leighton. The netminder made the mistake of giving the Newfoundlander a second chance and he buried the rebound.

NOTES: Veteran defenceman Sven Butenschon left midway through the second period with a shoulder ailment. He's listed as day-to-day.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca