Lyon's 49 Saves Nets Lancers Standing Point in Shootout Loss
Published on February 4, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
Sioux City, IA - Alex Lyon matched a USHL single-game high with 49 saves Saturday evening as the Omaha Lancers suffered a 3-2 shootout defeat at the hands of the Sioux City Musketeers in front of 2,471 fans at the Tyson Events Center. The Lancers earned one standings point with the shootout defeat and moved to a Western Conference-best 51 standings points on the year. Omaha is now 24-12-3 overall this season and suffered just its third loss of any variety over the last 12 games.
Omaha grabbed the game's opening goal 14:34 into the first period when Dominick Sacco found a streaking Ken Babinski down the slot who made a beautiful play at the side of the net before backhanding in his ninth goal of the season. Sacco earned the only assist on the even strength goal, which marked the 20th time in 39 games this season the Lancers have scored the game's first goal. The surging Babinski has now registered at least one point in 10 of his last 12 games overall.
Sioux City evened the game early in the second period when Pontus Johansson jabbed his 10th goal of the season inside the left post just 1:42 into the middle stanza. David Goodwin earned the only assist on the five-on-five marker. The Lancers regained the lead less than six minutes later when a perfect cross-crease by Greg Gozzo found Jimmy Murray on the back door for Murray's 13th goal of the season. The even strength strike came 7:25 into the second period and marked the 27th point tallied by Murray over his last 20 games.
The Musketeers evened the game just 50 seconds into the third period when Tim O'Brien fed a centering pass to Maxim Gaudreault which was one-timed in for Gaudreault's ninth goal of the season. Michael Holland earned the secondary assist on the game-tying tally.
After a scoreless overtime period, Sioux City completed the comeback in the shootout as Brad Robbins scored the lone goal and Musketeers goaltender Matt Skoff turned away the three Lancers attempts from Babinski, Murray and Anthony Hamburg.
Skoff earned the victory in goal for Sioux City after 23 saves on 25 shots on goal. The veteran improved to 15-16 overall this season and has now won five of his last six starts in cage. Meanwhile, Lyon suffered the shootout loss despite a USHL single-game best 49 saves on 51 Musketeers shots. The loss snapped Lyon's personal seven-game winning streak as the netminder dipped to 18-8-3 overall this season.
The Lancers are back in action next Friday evening when they welcome the Lincoln Stars to the Omaha Civic Auditorium for a 7:05 PM showdown.
United States Hockey League Stories from February 4, 2012
- Phantoms Ride Away from Stable with First Ever Win, 4-3 - Youngstown Phantoms
- Stampede Fall in Final Seconds to Fargo - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Lyon's 49 Saves Nets Lancers Standing Point in Shootout Loss - Omaha Lancers
- Lumberjacks Break Out, Blow out Chicago - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Balanced Attack Helps Fighting Saints Crush Ice - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Fighting Saints to Square off with Ice Tonight in Dubuque - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Black Hawks Vs. Stars Postponed - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Lincoln at Waterloo Postponed - USHL
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