Lancers resilient in Game 2 overtime win vs. Tri-City
Published on April 10, 2010 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
Seth Ambroz scored the game-winning goal in overtime and Stefan Demopoulos and Dennis Brown each tallied a pair of goals as the Omaha Lancers dropped the Tri-City Storm 5-4 Friday evening at the Viaero Event Center in Game 2 of the West Division Semifinals. Omaha now leads the best-of-five series two games to none and has its first chance to close out the series Saturday evening on home ice at the Omaha Civic Auditorium.
Tri-City grabbed the game's opening marker a little better than 15 minutes into the contest when, while shorthanded, Kenny Brooks grabbed a loose puck from a fallen Justin Holl and went coast-to-coast for his first goal of the postseason. Matt Johnson earned the only assist on the man-down goal netted 15:17 into the opening period of play.
The Storm then expanded their lead to 3-0 with just five and a half minutes remaining in the second period. First, Jaden Schwartz broke free on the right wing before backhanding in his first goal of the playoffs from Mario Puskarich and Brett Mohler 5:29 into the period. Then, a side-angle toss from the left wing redirected awkwardly past Omaha goaltender Jeff Teglia for Cody Murphy's first goal of the postseason. T.J. Schlueter and Branden Fisher assisted on the even strength marker scored 14:32 into the middle frame. Omaha bounced back quickly though and made its first trip to the scoreboard just 32 seconds later when Stefan Demopoulos converted a two-on-one for his first goal of the postseason.
Trailing 3-1 entering the third period, the Lancers found to even the contest at three apiece just six minutes into the final period of regulation. First, Demopoulos converted another opportunity from the slot just 2:02 into the period drawing Omaha within one. Ryan Daugherty earned the only assists on Demopoulos' second goal of the evening. Omaha then evened the contest when, while on the power play, Dennis Brown uncorked a snap shot from the high slot through traffic and past Tri-City goaltender Steven Bolton. Erik Haula and Matt White assisted on the man advantage marker. The Storm bounced right back though and regained the lead just 29 seconds later when Anthony DeCenzo won a goal line scramble in sending in his first goal of the playoffs putting Tri-City in front 4-3. Omaha found the equalizing marker once again though and knotted that game at four apiece 9:16 into the final frame when Brown punched in another snap shot from the high slot on the power play. Haula and Greg Wolfe assisted on Brown's second marker of the game, which proved to be the final goal scored in regulation.
Omaha landed the knockout punch less than three minutes into sudden death overtime when, following a goaltender interference minor penalty on Tri-City's Matt Johnson, White shuffled a cross-crease pass to Seth Ambroz who punched in the game-winning strike. Haula garnered the secondary assist on Omaha's third power play goal in six man-advantage opportunities on the evening.
Teglia earned his second consecutive postseason victory in goal for Omaha turning aside 19 of Tri-City's 23 total shots in the game. Bolton suffered the loss in his first career USHL playoff start after 34 saves on 39 Omaha shots.
The Lancers are back in action tomorrow evening when they return to the Omaha Civic Auditorium to host the Tri-City Storm in Game 3 of the West Division Semifinals.
United States Hockey League Stories from April 10, 2010
- U.S. Men's National U18 Team Tops Slovakia, 7-3, In Final Tune-Up For U18WC - U.S. National Team
- Lancers resilient in Game 2 overtime win vs. Tri-City - Omaha Lancers
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