Lancers Clinch Postseason Berth with 4-0 Win Over Tri-City
Published on March 9, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
Omaha, Neb. - Alex Lyon recorded his fourth shutout of the season as the Omaha Lancers blanked the Tri-City Storm 4-0 Friday evening at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. With the win, the Lancers improved to 31-16-3 on the year and clinched the team's USHL record 23rd consecutive postseason berth. Omaha became the first Western Conference team and just the second in the entire USHL to clinch a playoff berth.
Neither side was able to find the back of the net in the opening period despite a combined 19 shots on goal. Lyon registered seven saves on the seven Tri-City shots he faced in period one while Storm netminder Adam Wilcox turned away all 12 Lancers opportunities he faced including a spectacular back door denial on Omaha's Max Vallis in the midst of a Lancers power play.
The scoreless deadlock remained through the second period as well as Lyon answered Tri-City's nine shots while Wilcox denied the 10 Omaha bids in the middle stanza.
Omaha finally broke through 1:10 into the third period when Anthony Hamburg executed a brilliant move on the left wing before solving Wilcox for his 11th goal of the season. Nolan Zajac and Max Vallis assisted on the even strength marker, which improved the Lancers record to 24-3-1 when scoring first this season. Omaha doubled its lead with less than seven minutes remaining in regulation when a persistent forecheck between Vallis, Hambug and Tanner Lane resulted in Vallis' 15th goal of the year. The five-on-five marker produced the ninth multi-point game this season for Vallis and the sixth multi-point effort this season for Hamburg. The Lancers then put the game away with a pair of goals in the final two minutes. First, with Wilcox back to the bench in favor of the extra attacker, Kenny Gillespie fired his fourth goal of the season into the empty. Eli Lichtenwald assisted on the goal scored 18:08 into the third period. Then, Ken Babinski capped the evening with his 11th goal of the season off a perfect cross-crease setup from Matt Gaudreau.
Lyon earned the victory in goal for Omaha after turning aside all 26 Tri-City shots. With the win, Lyon improved to 22-12-3 on the year and earned his USHL-leading fourth shutout of the season. Meanwhile, Wilcox suffered the loss despite 30 saves on 33 Lancers shots. Wilcox is now 19-16 on the year.
The Lancers are back in action tomorrow evening when they head to Cedar Rapids for a 7:05 PM showdown with the RoughRiders.
United States Hockey League Stories from March 9, 2012
- Phantoms Fall to Ice 5-2 But Clinch Playoff Berth with Lumberjacks' Loss - Youngstown Phantoms
- Gamblers Edge Fighting Saints 3-2 in Overtime - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Lancers Clinch Postseason Berth with 4-0 Win Over Tri-City - Omaha Lancers
- Chicago Escapes Muskegon with 3-1 Win - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Fighting Saints Host USHL-Best Gamblers Tonight - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Tri-City Storm News & Notes - Week 24 - Tri-City Storm
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