Lancers Complete Sweep of Sioux Falls with 7-3 Victory
Published on March 21, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
Sioux Falls, SD - The Omaha Lancers received seven goals from seven different goal scorers Wednesday evening as the team completed a regular season series sweep of the Sioux Falls Stampede with a 7-3 victory in front of 2,249 fans at the Sioux Falls Arena. With the win, Omaha improved to 34-17-3 on the year and became the first Western Conference team and second USHL club this season to eclipse 70 standings points. The Lancers, who have now won five straight road games, now lead the West with 71 standings points.
Omaha opened the scoring a little over six minutes into the game when, while on the power play, Kenney Morrison blasted a left point one-timer past Sioux Falls goaltender Jay Williams for his 13th goal of the season. Nolan Zajac and Jimmy Murray assisted on the man-advantage tally, which marked the 30th time in 54 games this season that the Lancers have scored the game's first goal. Morrison now leads all Lancers and ranks third among all USHL skaters with 11 power play goals this season. Omaha doubled its lead a little over three minutes later when a three-on-two rush between Murray, Casey Bailey and Greg Gozzo resulted in Gozzo's 21st goal of the year. Murray and Bailey assisted on the even strength strike netted 9:11 into the opening period of play. Murray's second assist of the period generated his team-leading 19th multi-point of the season. Sioux Falls climbed back to within a single goal in the final minute of the period when Matt VanVoorhis won a battle for a loose puck atop the goal crease before sending in his eighth goal of the season. Justin Selman and Dan Carlson assisted on the five-on-five tally scored 19:01 into the first period.
Omaha regained its two-goal lead just under seven minutes into the second period when Anthony Hamburg gathered a loose puck at the left side of the goal before sending his 12th goal of the season under the crossbar. Tanner Lane grabbed the only assist on the even strength goal scored 6:59 in the period. The Lancers opened up a three-goal advantage less than two minutes later when, while on the power play, Hamburg set up Vallis in the slot for his 17th goal of the season. Omaha capped its offensive outburst in the middle period with less than five minutes remaining when an attempted Sioux Falls clear from behind its goal line deflected off Mark Miller, popped over the net and rolled off the back of Williams before trickling over the goal line. The unassisted tally came 15:31 into the second period and was Miller's 10th goal of the year.
The Stampede made things interesting for a time with a pair of goals a little over four minutes apart in the third period. First, Austyn Young harnessed a right wing rebound before driving in his 10th goal of the year 11:40 into the final period. Then, Ed McGovern launched a seeing-eye wrist shot from the high slot on the power play between the pads of Omaha goaltender Alex Lyon for his sixth goal of the season. Omaha put the game away though with a pair of late empty net goals from Lane and Zajac. With the goals, Lane and Zajac became the ninth and 10th Lancers skaters this season to register double-digit goals.
Lyon earned the victory in goal after 36 saves on 39 shots. With the win, Lyon improved to 24-13-3 on the year and finished the regular season 6-0 against Sioux Falls. Meanwhile, Williams suffered the loss after 21 saves on 26 Lancers shots on goal.
The Lancers are back in action Friday evening when the team travels to Kearney, Nebraska for its final regular season showdown with the Tri-City Storm.
United States Hockey League Stories from March 21, 2012
- Stampede Can't Stop Omaha - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Lancers Complete Sweep of Sioux Falls with 7-3 Victory - Omaha Lancers
- National Team Development Program Weekly Update - U.S. National Team
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