Green Bay Overwhelms Lancers 6-1 at Ralston Arena
Published on March 15, 2013 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
Ralston, Neb. - Sheldon Dries scored three times and Alex Kile and Nicholas Schilkey chipped in three assists each as the Green Bay Gamblers earned a convincing 6-1 victory over the Omaha Lancers Friday evening in front of 3,381 fans at Ralston Arena. Following the loss, Omaha moved to 32-24 overall this year and remains in fifth place in the Western Conference standings. The setback was the seventh for the Lancers over the last 11 games who continue to trail the Waterloo Black Hawks by one point for the fourth and final playoff spot in the West.
Neither side was able to find the back of the net in the opening period despite a combined 21 shots on goal. Lancers netminder Alex Lyon registered eight saves on eight Green Bay shots while Gamblers goaltender Tony Kujava answered the 13 Omaha shots that came his way in the first frame.
Green Bay then opened the scoring early in the second period when, while on the power play, Schilkey sent a brilliant cross crease pass to the right post for a tap in by Dries. Kile earned the secondary assist on Dries' 18th goal of the season which came just 24 seconds into the middle stanza. The goal marked the 26th time in 56 games this season that the Lancers have surrendered the game's opening marker. Omaha is now 9-17 when allowing the game's first goal while the Gamblers earned their 13th straight win when scoring first. Green Bay then doubled its lead just over five minutes later when Dries slipped behind the Omaha defense before sending in his second goal of the game and 19th conversion this year. Kile and Schilkey assisted again on the even strength strike netted 5:23 into the second period.
The Gamblers then pulled away with four goals in the final period. First, Nick Schmaltz was left alone atop the Omaha goal crease before chipping in 14th goal of the season 7:16 into the third period. Matthew Weis and Ben Gallacher assisted on the five-on-five conversion. Green Bay then stretched its lead to a four-goal advantage less than two minutes later when Dries completed his hat trick off a transition rush with Schilkey and Kile. Schmaltz then buried his second goal of the night and 15th of the season 14:15 into the third period after tremendous patience by Gamblers' leading scorer Kyle Novak to create the scoring opportunity. Jordan Gross garnered the secondary helper on the even strength goal. The Lancers then made their first and only dent on the score sheet with just under five minutes remaining in the game when affiliate call-up Shane Gersich netted his first career USHL goal. Tyler Hynes and Trent Samuels-Thomas assisted on the goal, which came in just Gersich's fourth game in Omaha. Green Bay then capped its offensive outburst with an empty net goal from Gallacher in the final minute of regulation.
Kujava earned the victory in goal for the Gamblers after 27 saves on 28 Lancers shots. With the win, the Green Bay native improved to 7-3 on the year. Meanwhile, Lyon suffered the loss after just 20 saves on 24 Gamblers shots. Making his season-high ninth straight start, the veteran goaltender is now 25-18 this year.
The Lancers are back in action next Saturday evening when the team travels to Lincoln for a 7:05 PM showdown with the Stars.
United States Hockey League Stories from March 15, 2013
- Stampede Roll Past Tri-City for Fifth Straight Road Win - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Stars Sidestep Black Hawks - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Franklin Nets Hat Trick for Sioux Falls in Win over Storm - Tri-City Storm
- Green Bay Overwhelms Lancers 6-1 at Ralston Arena - Omaha Lancers
- Shootout Woes Stop Saints, Muskies Win 2-1 Friday - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Indiana win in shut-out - Indiana Ice
- Lumberjacks Fall in Defensive Slugfest at Home, 2-1 - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Stampede Call up Affiliate Player Zeleznkiar for this Weekend - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Forward Connor Hurley Rejoins Lumberjacks for Remainder of Season - Muskegon Lumberjacks
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