By Gary Lawless

ST. LOUIS Blues forward Keith Tkachuk is rumoured to have been taking some razzing about his fat paycheque at one point in his career when he replied with a flip, "Want more money? Play better." The other player involved went from ribber to ribbee in two seconds flat and skated away shaking his head.

For Jannik Hansen and the rest of the Manitoba Moose the same formula applies. Want to get to the NHL? Play better. Hansen is doing just that.

The second-year pro potted his 11th goal of the season Sunday afternoon to lift his Moose to a 2-1 win over the visiting Quad City Flames at MTS Centre before an announced crowd of 7,796.

The win pushed Manitoba's record to 33-24-2-3 on the season and leaves them with 69 points and at least a share of second place in the North Division.

Hansen has been among Manitoba's best players recently, scoring three goals and picking up five assists in the club's last five games.

Skating on a line with centre Brad Moran and sniper Jason Jaffray, Hansen has used his world-class speed to make a case for permanent assignment. Unless of course the Canucks come calling.

"We had our chances today and finally one went in. I should have had one earlier in the game but the one that went in counted," said Hansen, who has spent chunks of this season on the sidelines, first with a broken thumb and then a concussion. "It can be hard. I was coming back from injury and Mo (Moran) has had lots of different wingers this season. We played together a little before and even for a while last year. So it doesn't come completely unfamiliar skating with those two guys."

Hansen played all of last year with the Moose, mostly in a checking role before getting a late look from the Canucks near season's end. The Danish-born burner has been driven to learn the finer points of the North American pro game, soaking up whatever he can from teammate Mike Keane and others with the Moose.

It's beginning to show as Hansen is rounding into a complete player. He can kill penalties, create offence with his speed and be relied on late in games to play responsible hockey.

"It's a matter of playing where the coach wants you to play. If he wants you to kill penalties and play on a shutdown line, then you do that," said Hansen. "If he wants you to be a little more offensive, then do that. It's more a matter of fitting into the small roles on a team."

Moran says Hansen is finding his potential and living up to it.

"We seem to know where one another are out there. The puck is getting to somebody. Whether it's a broken play like today where I throw the puck to Jaffray and it gets to Hansen and he scores or it ends up on someone's tape," said Moran. "With Hansen's speed and his sense, things are going to happen. He's got his legs back. It was a tough first half for him being hurt and now he has his confidence and things are going well for him."

Arniel says Hansen has earned his time with the club's top line.

"He's figured out what he needs to do with those guys. With a guy like Moran, it's get him the puck and get your stick on the ice and get open. Jaffray is a corner man and a front-of-the-net man. Hansen understands he needs to use his speed and get open and get those guys the puck," said Arniel. "He's doing a pretty good job. He deserves to be there and he's finding consistency in his game. He's doing all the little things in his own end."