Lancers Defeat Roughriders 6-3
April 3, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
RALSTON, NE - Josh French and Jimmy Schuldt each had three points including the Schuldt's game winning goal in the second period as the Omaha Lancers defeated the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders by a 6-3 count on Friday night in front of 3,661, a sellout crowd at Ralston Arena.
Cedar Rapids took the lead early into the first period. Andrew Gaus fired a shot on net that was stopped by the right leg pad of goaltender Kris Oldham, however the rebound was grabbed by Dylan McLaughlin at the top of the crease and he sent it through the legs of Oldham to give the RoughRiders a 1-0 lead just 2:44 into the game. Gaus was credited with the first assist while Joe Wegwerth picked up the secondary helper.
The lead held up until just over midway through the first frame. Josh French took a loose puck and started a rush for the Lancers back out through the neutral zone. Once French crossed over the blueline Louie Rowe let up to trail the play. French hit Rowe with a pass who then fired the puck by Ben Blacker between the pipes for Cedar Rapids. The goal was Rowe's 15th of the year and came at 11:14 of the first period to tie the game 1-1.
Will Borgen scored his first USHL goal and it put Omaha in the lead late in the opening period. After a turnover, the Lancers took possession in the offensive zone. Jimmy Schuldt let a shot go that rang off the post and went right to an awaiting Will Borgen who let a shot go that went over the left shoulder of Ben Blacker to give the Lancers a 2-1 lead with only 2:03 remaining in the period. Schuldt and Shane Gersich were given the assists on the go-ahead goal.
Midway through the second period a power-play goal for the RoughRiders tied the game at two. A scramble in front of the net brought players from both side to the top of the crease trying to get the loose puck. Adam Gaudette got the final touch on it and sent it by Oldham's right leg pad to tie the game 2-2 at 11:28 of the second period. Assists on Gaudette's power-play strike were credited to Erik Foley and Dylan McLaughlin.
In a matter of fifteen seconds the Lancers took a two-goal advantage over Cedar Rapids. It was Omaha's turn on the power-play to score. Another dash to the front of the net happened after Ben Blacker made a save but couldn't get the rebound. Josh French jammed away at the puck until it slipped by Blacker's right leg pad to give the Lancers a 3-2 lead with 3:12 left in the second period. The goal was French's ninth of the season with helpers from Louie Rowe and Jimmy Schuldt.
Just fifteen seconds after French gave the Lancers another lead, Jimmy Schuldt ripped a shot by Blacker to make it a two-goal lead. Off the next faceoff, Schuldt took the puck inside the blueline and let a wrist shot go through traffic to give Omaha a 4-2 lead with 2:58 left in the period. Nick Rivera took the only assist on Schuldt's 11th of the season and third point of the game.
Jake Henderson tracked down a rebound in the third period to put the Lancers up by three goals. After a save by Ben Blacker, Henderson took the puck from the top of the crease and moved to Blacker's right side, using the back-hand to lift it top shelf under the crossbar for a 5-2 lead 6:32 into the third period of action. The assists on Henderson's goal were credited to Nick Rivera and Josh French.
Cedar Rapids came right back to once again make it a two-goal lead for Omaha. Just 16 seconds after Henderson's goal, Ross Colton went hard to the net and deflected in a centering pass from Callahan Burke from the right side of the ice at 6:48 of the final period.
With 8:46 left in the game Niklas Folin moved through the neutral zone and around the defense. At the same time, Matt Meier went to the net and took a pass from Folin, sending it by Ben Blacker for his seventh goal of the year to give Omaha a 6-3 lead, which held up as the final score.
Kris Oldham turned aside 23 of 26 shots in the win.
The Omaha Lancers are on the road tomorrow as they look for a win in Fargo against the Force at 7:05PM. LIVE coverage of the game begins at 6:50PM CST with the Valpak Pregame Show on The Mighty 1290 KOIL, www.mighty1290koil.com, and www.fasthockey.com .
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United States Hockey League Stories from April 3, 2015
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