Alger, Krusko Lift Lancers over Lincoln 5-3
Published on September 20, 2015 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
Omaha Lancers in Preseason Action
(Omaha Lancers)
Lincoln, NE - Austin Alger recorded a hat trick and Nathan Krusko added a pair of goals as the Omaha Lancers finished their preseason schedule with a 5-3 victory over rival Lincoln on Saturday night inside The Ice Box.
Lincoln took the lead 6:57 into the game on a rebound to the left of the net. After Zackarias Skog made the original save from his stomach, the puck rolled to his left and a pile skaters gathered trying to locate the puck. Finally, Jack Badini lifted it by Skog for the 1-0 lead. Assists on the first goal were credited to Nate Pionk and Carson Gicewicz.
Austin Alger scored his first of the game just under six minutes later. Nick Rivera hit Alger with a lead pass inside the neutral zone. That sprung Alger behind the defense and he let a wrist shot go that beat Stars' netminder Peyton Jones on the right side just to the left of the post for the tying goal at 11:13 of the opening period. It was Alger's first of the preseason with Rivera tallying the only assist.
Nathan Krusko capitalized on a Michael Bigelbach shot from a few feet inside the blue line to put the Lancers ahead for the first time of the night. Krusko waited in front of the net as Bigelbach let the shot go. The puck banked off of Krusko and into the net for the 2-1 advantage with just 3:26 left in the opening frame.
After Lincoln's Adam Brady tied the game just 21 seconds into the second period, the Lancers responded just over three minutes after. On a rush into the offensive zone, Rivera found Alger across the ice. As Alger took the pass in the right wing circle, he fired the shot by Jones for his second goal of the night and gave Omaha a 3-2 lead. Rivera once again was given the assist on the pass. His second assist of the game.
Shortly after Alger's goal, Krusko struck again for a two-goal lead. The puck deflected off several players in front of the net and last touched Krusko before going into the net to give the Lancers a 4-2 lead at the 4:07 mark of the second period. JC MacLean and Josh French had the assists on Krusko's second of the night and preseason.
Early in the final period Lincoln once again picked up an early goal. Ludvig Hoff scored his second goal of the preseason 59 seconds into the third. Patrick Polino and Grant Jozefek assisted Hoff's goal as he beat Zackarias Skog from the right side to pull the Stars to within a single goal of tying the game.
Once again, the Lancers came right back to take their two-goal lead back. While on the power play Austin Alger waited to the left of the crease as the man advantage unit worked the puck around the Stars penalty kill. After a shot, Alger collected the rebound and fired in his third of the game and preseason to put the Lancers out to a 5-3 lead. Brannon McManus and Michael Montambault each had assists on the second power play goal of the night for Omaha.
Lincoln put 35 shots on net and Zackarias Skog stopped 32 of them for the victory, including 14 of 15 saves in the first period. Omaha concluded the preseason with a record of 2-3-0 and both wins coming against Lincoln scoring ten overall goals against the conference rival.
The regular season begins this upcoming Friday night as the Omaha Lancers hit the road against the Tri-City Storm inside the Viaero Event Center. Puck drops at 7:30pm and fans can listen live beginning at 7:15pm with the Valpak Pregame Show on "The Mighty" 1290 KOIL, Mighty 1290 KOIL Mobile APP, www.mighty1290koil.com, and FASTHockey.com.
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 Omaha Lancers in Preseason Action |
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