Lancers Score Season-High 8 Goals, Drop Sioux Falls 8-5
Published on January 13, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
Omaha, Neb. - Max Vallis scored three goals and the Omaha Lancers set a season-high for goals scored in a single game Friday night in dropping the Sioux Falls Stampede 8-5 in front of 3,245 fans at the Sioux Falls Arena. With the win, Omaha improved to 19-10-2 on the year and remains tied atop the Western Conference with the Lincoln Stars. The Lancers have now won four straight games and 10 of their last 12 overall.
Omaha grabbed the game's opening goal 3:22 into period one when Jimmy Murray sent a wrist shot from the high slot that was redirected en route by Greg Gozzo between the pads of Stampede netmider Stephon Williams for Gozzo's 13th goal of the season. The five-on-five tally marked the 15th time in 31 games this season the Lancers have scored the game's first goal. Sioux Falls evened the game just past the midway point of the opening period when Kyle Rankin pounced on a rebound at the left wing before driving in his eighth goal of the year. Justin Selman and Drew Brevig assisted on the even strength goal notched 12:21 into period one.
Omaha regained the lead 5:09 into the second period when an offensive zone faceoff win by Tanner Lane produced a left wing wrist shot by Max Vallis that slipped through traffic and past Williams for Vallis' seventh goal of the season. Sioux Falls evened the game a little over two minutes later when Ryan Keller popped a left wing slap shot between the pads of Omaha goaltender Alex Lyon for this fourth goal of the season. The unassisted even strength goal came 7:16 into the second period. The Lancers began to pull away with three consecutive goals to close out the middle stanza. First, Vallis netted his second of the game 8:43 into the period with a booming slap shot from the right point. Jonathan Liau earned the only assist on Vallis' eighth goal of the season. The Lancers then doubled their lead 10:27 into the second period Dominick Sacco one-timed home his second goal in as many games since coming to Omaha. Nolan Zajac and Ken Babinski assisted on the Lancers fourth straight five-on-five goal scored in the game. Omaha capped its four-goal period 16:04 into the middle frame when, while on the power play, Victor Newell launched a right point one-timer past Williams for his sixth goal of the season. Kevin Schulze garnered the only assist on the man-advantage marker, which ended Williams' night after just 15 saves on 20 Omaha shots.
The Lancers stretched their lead to the largest of the game 3:40 into the final period of regulation when Gozzo scored his second goal of the game. Murray and Zajac assisted on the even strength goal which put Omaha in front 6-2 and appeared to put the game out of reach. Sioux Falls remained resilient and cut Omaha's lead in half after a power play goal from Justin Selman followed by an even strength marker from Joseph Lordo. The Lancers bounced right back though and reestablished their three-goal lead 12:12 into the final period when Vallis completed his hat trick with his third goal of the game and ninth of the season. Schulze and Liau assisted on the five-on-five marker, which matched a season-high with seven goals scored in a game. The Stampede climbed back to within two goals just under two minutes later when Dan Carlson poured in his fifth goal of the season but that's as close as Sioux Falls would get as Omaha set a new season-high for goals in a game when Murray found the empty net with just 21 seconds remaining sealing the Lancers victory.
Lyon earned the win in goal for Omaha after 37 saves on 42 Stampede shots on goal. With the win, Lyon improved to 14-8-2 overall this season and has now won eight of his last 10 starts. Meanwhile, Charlie Lindgren suffered the loss in goal for Sioux Falls after surrendering the eventual game-winning goal in the third period. All tolled, Lindgren registered 12 saves on 14 Lancers shots to move to 5-7 on the year. Williams earned a no-decision in goal.
The Lancers are back in action tomorrow evening when they travel to Lincoln for a 7:05 PM showdown with the Stars.
United States Hockey League Stories from January 13, 2012
- Stampede Lose Wild One to Lancers, 8-5 - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Lancers Score Season-High 8 Goals, Drop Sioux Falls 8-5 - Omaha Lancers
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