DES MOINES, IA - The Buccaneers battled the Omaha Lancers on Thanksgiving Night in an attempt to extract a little revenge on the first place team in the West Division after a 5-1 game on Friday, November 20th. The Buccaneers and Lancers battled back and forth on the ice but the Lancers came out on top, 5-4.Omaha scored first when Matt White, the league's leading scorer, put one past Buccaneer goalie Eric Mihalik at 14:55. The Buccaneers were unable to score in the first period, heading into the first intermission down by one.
The game came alive in the second period as Ryan Walters stepped onto the ice at the start of the second and scored the Bucs first goal of the game just forty seconds into the period. Omaha followed that goal up with two of their own. The first goal, from Stefan Demopoulous, put the Lancers back in the lead. Joe Lavin scored the second, a powerplay goal, which would widen the gap between the two teams. Des Moines answered with a powerplay goal from T.J. Tynan at 13:05 and another goal from Yasin Cisse at 15:39, tying the game at 3-3. The Lancers rallied together for another goal from Matt White at 18:19. The period ended with a score of 4-3.
In the third, Erik Haula scored the final goal for the Lancers at 5:13 putting them up, 5-3. Chris Stafne would step up to the challenge and came out with a goal at 9:24 bringing the Bucs back within one. Both teams battled on, as Omaha tried to remain on top and the Buccaneers worked to tie the game. As the clock ran out, the Lancers remained on top and recorded the win.
The Buccaneers were 1 for 7 on the powerplay as they had 27 shots on goal. Chris Stafne was named a star of the game for his one goal and two assists in the game.
View the official box score here: http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/boxscore.html?gameid1048886
The Bucs return to action on Saturday night against Team USA for the first time this season. Join us at Buccaneer Arena for a great night of hockey action. The Gabe Fleming Memorial Hockey Fund will be hosting a Silent Auction in the east hallway of the arena benefiting youth hockey. For more information visit www.bucshockey.com or search "Gabe Fleming Memorial Hockey Scholarship Fund" on Facebook.
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