Elser Scores Four in Des Moines Victory
April 4, 2014 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Tri-City Storm News Release
DES MOINES, Ia. - Danial Elser scored four goals, leading the Des Moines Buccaneers (20-32-7) to a 5-2 victory over the Tri-City Storm (21-35-3) on Friday night at Buccaneer Arena.
Dan Labosky and Cody Milan each scored for Tri-City, while affiliate Josh Gabriel notched his first career USHL point.
Elser came out of the gate hot, scoring twice in the first eight minutes of the game to give the Buccaneers an early 2-0 lead. Both goals came on tip-in plays in front of the net and were assisted by Alec Rauhauser and Ryan Galt.
Tri-City cut into the lead later in the opening period on Labosky's 10th goal of the season. Gabriel started the play, moving the puck to forward Austin Poganski, who found Labosky open for a wrister. The shot beat Des Moines goaltender Ryan Ruck up high and made it a 2-1 game.
But less than a minute later, Des Moines re-established a two-goal lead on a tally from forward Patrick Grasso. Set up by defenseman David Drake, Grasso bested Storm netminder Hayden Lavigne to make it 3-1.
The Storm cut the Bucs' lead once again in the second on Milan's fourth goal of the season. Assisted by forwards Garrett Gamez and Jake Wahlin, Tri-City was down 3-2 as the teams headed to the third period.
Elser took over once again in the final frame, scoring his third of the night at 11:53 and his fourth with an empty net at 18:50.
Ruck made 29 saves to earn the win for Des Moines, while Lavigne turned aside 41 shots for Tri-City in the loss.
The Storm will end their 2013-14 season with Saturday night's finale against Lincoln at the Viaero Event Center. The puck will drop at 7:05 p.m.
Tri-City will celebrate Fan Appreciation Night and honor the ten-year anniversary of their 2003-04 Anderson Cup championship team.
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