4-goal 2nd period leads Force past Lancers
January 2, 2010 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
Matt Leitner and Chase Grant each tallied two goals and an assist and the Fargo Force scored four unanswered goals in the 2nd period in knocking off the Omaha Lancers 6-5 Saturday evening at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. With the loss, the Lancers fell to 22-6-1 on the year but remain atop both the West Division and USHL standings with 45 points. Omaha is now 0-2 on the year against the Force.
Fargo grabbed the game's opening goal just 6:12 into period one when Garrett Allen stashed home a loose rebound at the top of the goal crease for his 10th goal of the season. Matt Leitner and Nick Oliver each earned assists on the even strength marker. Omaha responded though just 2:22 later when Seth Ambroz tapped in a cross-crease pass from Matt White for his 12th goal of the season. Dennis Brown grabbed the other assist on the 5-on-3 power play marker notched 8:35 into the opening frame. The Lancers grabbed their first lead of the night 13:54 into the opening period when Erik Haula won a race for a loose puck in stepping around Fargo goaltender Ryan Massa in roofing home his 13th goal of the season. Danny Mattson earned the only assist on the even strength marker. Omaha closed the period with a pair of goals just 24 seconds apart when Nick Oddo punched in his 9th goal of the year followed by Tom Craig's 1st of the season giving the Lancers a 4-1 lead at the break.
Fargo came out like a team on a mission in the 2nd period and got the game back to even just past the midway point of the period. Matt Leitner started the comeback with his 13th goal of the season 4:14 into the period and the Force climbed to within a single goal just 2:25 after when Colten St. Clair, as the trailer on a 3-on-2, fired home his 7th marker of the year. Fargo then drew even when Chase Grant scooped up a rebound on the power play evening the game 10:25 into the second. Fargo wasn't done yet, however, as Leitner had one more goal in him closing out a four-goal frame for the Force and sending Omaha to the lockerroom trailing 5-4 after 40 minutes.
The Force extended the advantage to 6-4 just 2:23 into the final frame when Grant scooped in another rebound for his 2nd goal of the game and 14th of the season. Omaha answered right back though as Haula scored shorthanded just 2:08 later drawing the Lancers to within a single marker. Omaha had its chances late, including a penalty shot for Oddo and a Daugherty wrister that rang off the left post, but the Lancers couldn't find the equalizing marker before the final buzzer sounded.
Omaha's Jeff Teglia suffered the loss in goal after turning aside just 16 of the 22 Fargo shots he faced. John Keeney, who relieved Teglia with 17:37 remaining in the 3rd period, turned aside all 5 Fargo shots he saw. Dayn Belfour earned the victory in net for the Force stopping 12 of Omaha's 13 shots through the final two periods.
The Lancers are back in action tomorrow afternoon when they head to Cedar Rapids for the final time this season to take on the RoughRiders.
United States Hockey League Stories from January 2, 2010
- U.S. Advances to World Junior Championship Semifinals with 6-2 Win over Finland - U.S. National Team
- U.S. Nat'l U17 Team Tops Pacific, 2-1, at World U17 Challenge - U.S. National Team
- 4-goal 2nd period leads Force past Lancers - Omaha Lancers
- Hawks See Role Reversed - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Gamblers win over Phantoms - Youngstown Phantoms
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