Lyon Leads Lancers in 3-2 Shootout Win over Sioux City
December 21, 2012 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
Ralston, Neb. - Robbie Baillargeon scored twice and Alex Lyon recorded a season-high 43 saves as the Omaha Lancers outlasted the Sioux City Musketeers 3-2 in a shootout Friday evening in front of 3,673 fans at Ralston Arena. With the win, Omaha improved to 16-12 on the year and moved to a perfect 7-0 in shootouts this season. The Lancers have now won 12 of their last 15 games overall and have won a USHL-best 11 one-goal games this season.
Omaha opened the scoring less than five minutes into the contest when a perfect set-up along the half boards by Jake Randolph found Baillargeon at the front of the net who made no mistake in sending in his eighth goal of the season and second in as many games with the Lancers. In his first game back in Omaha, Dominic Racobaldo earned the secondary assist on the even strength goal scored 4:17 into the first period. The goal marked the 16th time in 28 games this season that the Lancers have scored first. Omaha is now 13-3 when scoring first this season. The Lancers were able to hold Sioux City off the score board in period one after Lyon matched a season-high with 19 saves on 19 Musketeers shots in the opening period.
Omaha doubled its lead a little over three minutes into the second period when a two-on-between between Baillargeon and Drew Melanson resulted in Baillargeon's second goal of the game and ninth of the season. Matias Cleland garnered the secondary assist on the five-on-five marker netted 3:09 into the middle stanza. Sioux City trimmed the deficit back to a single goal less than a minute later when Tanner Pond redirected Nikolas Olsson's centering pass inside the right post for this sixth goal of the year. The even strength strike came 3:44 into the second period.
The Musketeers then evened the contest just prior to the midway point of the third period when J.T. Stenglein punched in his eighth goal of the season and second in eight games with Sioux City. Jared Thomas and Michael Kapla assisted on the five-on-five marker scored 7:24 into the final period.
The deadlock remained through the remainder of regulation and overtime before both Tyler Moy and Kyle Osterberg scored in the shootout while Lyon denied both Sioux City attempts preserving Omaha's seventh shootout wins in as many tries this year. Lyon earned the victory in goal after a season-high 43 saves on 45 Musketeers shots improving to 11-9 overall this year. The veteran from Baudette, Minnesota now leads all USHL netminders with five shootout victories this season. Meanwhile, Sioux City's Joe Ballmer suffered the shootout defeat despite 38 saves on 40 Lancers shots.
The Lancers are back in action next Saturday evening when the team returns to Ralston Arena for a 7:35 PM showdown with the Tri-City Storm.
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