Omaha Lancers News & Notes - Week 17
January 19, 2012 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
Omaha, Neb. - The Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) look to extend a pair of winning streaks as they return home to the Omaha Civic Auditorium for a weekend home stand with the Sioux City Musketeers and Lincoln Stars.
Omaha (20-10-2, 42 pts.) enters the week in the midst of both a five-game home winning streak along with a five-game winning streak overall. The Lancers extended their overall winning streak last weekend with an 8-5 victory at the Sioux Falls Stampede on Friday following by a 6-3 doubling up of the Stars in Lincoln on Saturday. Max Vallis netted three goals (his second hat trick of the season) in Friday's victory while Casey Bailey scored his team-leading 15th and 16th goals of the season in Saturday's triumph. Omaha's current five-game winning streak matches a season-high for consecutive victories as the Lancers previously rattled off five straight wins from December 2nd to December 10th. Meanwhile, Omaha returns home this weekend in the midst of a season-high five-game home winning streak. The current run began with a 6-4 victory over Sioux City on November 19th and the Lancers haven't lost at the Civic Auditorium since a 6-4 setback at the hands of the Des Moines Buccaneers on November 18th.
Omaha looks to extend both of those runs to a season-high six games this Friday when the Lancers welcome the Musketeers back to the Civic Auditorium. Sioux City (12-21-0, 24 pts.) enters the weekend in the midst of a run it would like to soon forget. The Musketeers enter Friday's showdown having dropped five consecutive games including a 4-3 setback at the Sioux Falls Stampede last night. The Musketeers have now lost seven of their last nine games overall and will enter the Civic Auditorium on Friday in the midst of a seven-game road losing skid. Sioux City hasn't won away from its home ice since a 4-3 win in Lincoln on December 3rd. Friday's clash in Omaha is the Musketeers' final game of the week.
Meanwhile, the Lancers conclude Week 17 action on Saturday when the team welcomes the Stars to the Civic Auditorium for the third straight head-to-head Saturday showdown between Lincoln and Omaha. Lincoln (20-11-2, 42 pts.) opened this week's action early with a 7-0 shutout of the Tri-City Storm. That victory was the Stars' fifth win in the last eight games overall. Before traveling to Omaha on Saturday, Lincoln will first host the Fargo Force on Friday.
Omaha Notes:
Omaha Lancers - 20-10-2, 42 pts. (T-1st Western Conference)
- Omaha is currently in the midst of a season-high five-game home winning streak and five-game winning streak overall. The Lancers have outscored their opponents 26-15 during their recent surge and have now claimed victories in 11 of the team's last 13 games overall. Omaha's offense has been on fire of late having recorded 60 goals during the last 13 games (avg. 4.62 goals/game).
- F Max Vallis was named co-CCM Offensive Player of the Week last week after recording four goals in two Lancers victories. Vallis became the third Lancer this season to be recognized with the weekly honor joining F Casey Bailey and G Alex Lyon.
- G Alex Lyon will participate in the first-ever USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game this coming Tuesday, January 24th in Muskegon, Michigan. The game, which features 40 skaters eligible for the 2012 or 2013 NHL Draft, will be broadcast live and for free for all fans through FastHockey.
- F Jimmy Murray continues to lead all Lancers and is fifth among all USHL skaters in scoring with 36 points (eight goals, 28 assists). Committed to St. Cloud State University, Murray leads all USHLers with 28 assists and enters the week having tallied 19 points (four goals, 15 assists) over his last 13 games. The veteran from Darien, Illinois leads all Lancers with 10 multi-point games this season.
- F Casey Bailey leads all Lancers and is tied for ninth among all USHL skaters with 16 goals this season. Bailey enters the week second among all Lancers with 29 points (16 goals, 13 assists).
- Omaha's power play has been red hot of late having produced 15 man-advantage markers over the last 10 games. During that stretch, the Lancers power play is clicking at 29.4% (15-for-51) and enters the week ranked seventh among all 16 USHL man advantages at 18.3% overall.
Opponents Notes:
Friday, Jan. 20 vs. Sioux City Musketeers - 12-21-0, 24 pts. (7th Western Conference)
- Friday's meeting is the fourth head-to-head meeting this season between Omaha and Sioux City. The Lancers are 3-0 against the Musketeers overall this season, including a 2-0 mark at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. Omaha's Jimmy Murray leads all scorers in the season series with seven points (two goals, five assists) through the first three meetings.
- The Musketeers are 6-12 on the road this season and have been outscored 74-53 in 18 prior road games. Sioux City enters the week in the midst of a seven-game road losing skid which has seen the Musketeers outscored 36-15 during that stretch.
- F Brad Robbins leads all Sioux City skaters in scoring and is tied for 10th among all USHLers with 31 points (17 goals, 14 assists) this season.
- The Musketeers' power play enters the weekend sixth-best in the league at 19.5% while the team's penalty kill ranks fifth overall at 83.7%.
Opponents Notes:
Saturday, Jan. 21 vs. Lincoln Stars - 20-11-2, 42 pts. (T-1st Western Conference)
- Saturday's meeting is the fifth of eight regular season meetings between Omaha and Lincoln. The Stars claimed the first head-to-head meeting but the Lancers have responded earning victories in each of the last three get-togethers. Omaha's Casey Bailey continues to lead all scorers in the season series with 10 points (four goals, six assists) through the first four meetings.
- The Stars are 10-6-1 on the road this season and have outscored their opposition 57-52 in 17 prior road games.
- F Kevin Roy leads all Lincoln skaters and enters the week atop the USHL scoring race with 52 points (27 goals, 25 assists) this season. Roy leads all USHL skaters with 27 goals this season and 16 multi-point games. Committed to Brown University, Roy enters the weekend in the midst of a five-game scoring streak having notched 11 points (six goals, five assists) during his recent surge.
- Lincoln's power play enters the week ranked third among all USHL clubs at 21.6% (27-for-125). Meanwhile the Stars' penalty ranks 12th overall at 80.4% and has surrendered a USHL-high 32 power play goals-against.
• Discuss this story on the United States Hockey League message board...
United States Hockey League Stories from January 19, 2012
- Fighting Saints Force Overtime, Lose 3-2 to Team USA - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Gamblers Team up with Red Cross - Green Bay Gamblers
- Teams Set for 2012 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game - USHL
- Green Bay Gamblers Weekly - Green Bay Gamblers
- Max Gardiner Commits to Penn State - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game to be Webcast Free on FASTHockey - Youngstown Phantoms
- Fighting Saints to Face off Against Team USA Tonight - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Omaha Lancers News & Notes - Week 17 - Omaha Lancers
- Phantoms Prep for 3-In-3 on the Road - Youngstown Phantoms
- Lumberjacks Log: McKenzie Takes Charge - Muskegon Lumberjacks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
