Eveland's Offense, Keeney's Goaltending Lead Omaha Past Youngstown 6-1
Published on March 19, 2010 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
Dakota Eveland recorded two goals and two assists while Troy Power chipped in a goal and an assist of his own as the Omaha Lancers dropped the Youngstown Phantoms 6-1 Friday evening in front of 5,059 fans at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. With the win, the Lancers improved to 37-12-6 on the year and completed a regular season series sweep of the Phantoms. In four games against Youngstown this season, the Lancers outscored the Phantoms 19-4. Omaha's win coupled with Fargo's 6-0 setback in Lincoln means the Lancers now hold a five standings point edge over the Force in the West Division standings.
Despite quality scoring chances early and often in the opening period thanks to three early Youngstown penalties, the Lancers didn't grab the game's opening marker until late in the frame when, while shorthanded, Dakota Eveland got free on the right wing before sending home his 19th goal of the season. Seth Ambroz set up the goal 17:08 into the period with a tape-to-tape cross-ice outlet pass while Justin Holl grabbed the secondary helper for his first career USHL point. The tally was Omaha's league-leading 38th first goal this season and is the 14th shorthanded marker the Lancers have netted this season.
The Lancers doubled the lead just prior to the midway point of period two when Aaron Ave's wrist shot from the left point produced a rebound in front, which was promptly stashed home by Eveland. Ave and Troy Power assisted on Eveland's second goal of the game and his 20th this season tallied 8:27 into the middle frame. Omaha wasted little time adding to its lead as just 1:37 later the Lancers extended the advantage to 3-0 as Erik Haula pounced on a power play rebound for his 26th goal of the year. Dennis Brown and Matt White assisted on the man advantage tally. Youngstown made its one and only trip to the scoreboard late in period two when Nick Czinder broke in on the left wing and backhanded in his 10th goal of the season 16:48 into the frame. David Donnellan earned the only assist on Youngstown's only goal of the evening.
Omaha then put the game away in the third period with a trio of goals in the final frame. First, Greg Wolfe waited out Youngstown goaltender Matt Mahalak before roofing his 20th goal of the season. With the goal, Wolfe became the sixth Lancers skater this season to register 20 goals and Omaha is now the only team in the USHL to boast six different 20-goal scorers. Eveland grabbed the only assist on Wolfe's marker netted 59 seconds into the period. Then, Omaha grabbed a 5-1 lead when Stefan Demopoulos chipped a bouncing puck at the top of the goal crease under the crossbar for his 8th goal of the season. Mike Chiasson earned the only assist on the five-on-five marker tallied 8:27 into the third. Finally, Power landed the final nail in the coffin as he punched home a power play rebound goal from Holl and Eveland with just over six minutes remaining in the game. The goal was Power's 23rd this season while Eveland's assist capped a four-point night for the veteran from Anaheim, California.
Lancers goaltender John Keeney was rarely tested in the opening two periods but answered the call in the third when he recorded a team-high 17 saves in the period. All tolled, Keeney registered 26 saves on 27 Youngstown shots for his 4th consecutive victory in net. With the win, Keeney improved to 6-1-1 on the year. Meanwhile, Mahalak suffered his 6th consecutive loss after just 26 saves on 32 Omaha shots on goal.
The Lancers are back in action tomorrow evening as they welcome the Sioux Falls Stampede to the Omaha Civic Auditorium for a 7:05 PM opening face off.
United States Hockey League Stories from March 19, 2010
- Team USA Scores Four Goals In Second, Wins 4-1 - Tri-City Storm
- U.S. Nat'l U18 Team Tops Chicago, 5-3 - U.S. National Team
- Eveland's Big Night Spurs Omaha Over Youngstown - Youngstown Phantoms
- Eveland's Offense, Keeney's Goaltending Lead Omaha Past Youngstown 6-1 - Omaha Lancers
- USHL Approves Transfer Of Ownership For Sioux City Musketeers - USHL
- Chubak Headed To Niagara University Next Season - Tri-City Storm
- Last Regular Season Home Games March 26 & 27 - Fargo Force
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