Lancers complete opening round sweep of Tri-City
Published on April 11, 2010 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
Nick Oddo scored a pair of goals and Matt White added a goal and an assist as the Omaha Lancers dropped the Tri-City Storm 5-2 Saturday evening at the Omaha Civic Auditorium completing their first-round sweep of the Storm. With the win, the Lancers advance to the West Division Finals to face the Fargo Force who completed their opening round sweep of the Sioux Falls Stampede this evening as well.
Tri-City grabbed the game's opening goal with the team's first scoring chance of the night when Jaden Schwartz got free in the slot in firing home his 2nd goal of the playoffs. Mario Puskarich and Mike Malady assisted on the even strength tally netted 9:37 into period one. Omaha bounced right back though and evened the game just a minute later when Seth Ambroz converted a beautiful three-on-two with Matt White and Erik Haula for Ambroz's 2nd goal of the postseason. The Lancers then claimed their first lead of the night when Nick Oddo fired a snap shot from the high slot, which sizzled past the glove of Tri-City goaltender Carsen Chubak giving Omaha a 2-1 advantage. CJ Ludwig and Cam Wojtala assisted on Oddo's 3rd playoff goal. Omaha wasted little time extending the lead as just 26 seconds later Dennis Brown hit Oddo with a long stretch pass springing the Omaha native on a breakaway resulting in his second goal of the game and 4th of the playoffs. The three first period goals were the fastest three goals scored by the Lancers this season as the tallies came just 2:46 apart. The Storm trimmed Omaha's advantage back to a single goal with less than three minutes remaining in the opening period when a blocked power play shot sprung Schwartz free and clear through center ice where he popped in a shorthanded goal for his second tally of the evening and third of the postseason. The unassisted marker scored 17:46 into the first period ended a back-and-forth opening frame at the Omaha Civic Auditorium.
The Lancers reestablished their two-goal lead just past the midway point of the game when, while on the power play, Justin Holl stepped in on the right wing in sending home his first goal of the playoffs, which also came as his first career USHL goal. Greg Wolfe and Troy Power assisted on the man advantage tally put home 12:28 into the second period. Omaha then landed the final knockout punch in the final minute of the middle period when Haula connected with White on a shorthanded breakout resulting in a bulls-eye of a wrist shot for his second goal of the playoffs and sealing a 5-2 Omaha victory.
Jeff Teglia earned his 3rd consecutive victory in goal during the postseason after turning aside 14 of Tri-City's 16 total shots. Meanwhile, Tri-City's Chubak suffered the loss despite 34 saves on 39 Omaha shots.
The Lancers are back in action this coming weekend they begin the best-of-five West Division Finals against the Fargo Force. Stay tuned to www.lancers.com for a complete schedule of the West Division Finals.
United States Hockey League Stories from April 11, 2010
- Must-Win Game Four Monday Night At Pan Am Plaza - Indiana Ice
- Closing the season in Omaha, where it all started - Tri-City Storm
- Lancers complete opening round sweep of Tri-City - Omaha Lancers
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