Guentzel's Hat Trick Fuels Sioux City's 5-1 Win over Lancers
March 30, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
Sioux City, Iowa - Jake Guentzel scored three goals and the Sioux City Musketeers converted three times on the power play Saturday evening en route to a 5-1 victory over the Omaha Lancers in front of 2,996 fans at the Tyson Events Center. Omaha's loss coupled with Waterloo's 2-1 triumph over Fargo moved the Lancers three standings points behind the Black Hawks for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. With just four regular season games remaining, Omaha has now dropped 10 of its last 15 games overall.
Sioux City opened the scoring less than nine minutes into the game when, during a five-on-three power play, Jake Guentzel's attempted pass at the right wing deflected off a Lancers defenseman before rolling inside the right post. Jared Thomas and Blake Heinrich assisted on Guentzel's 23rd goal of the season, which extended the Woodbury, Minnesota native's scoring streak to 17 consecutive games. The tally marked the 29th time in 60 games this season that the Lancers have surrendered the game's opening goal. Omaha answered with a two-man advantage conversion of its own a little better than five minutes later when Jake Randolph punched in his 13th goal of the year. Tyler Moy and Matias Cleland assisted on the power play goal netted 13:58 into the first period.
The Musketeers regained the lead just prior to the midway point of the game when a tenacious forecheck in the Omaha zone produced a back door opportunity for Guentzel who made no mistake in burying his second goal of the game and 24th of the season. Trevor Olson and Cliff Watson assisted on the even strength strike netted 9:43 into the middle stanza.
Sioux City then put the game away with a trio of conversions in the final period. First, Guentzel completed his hat trick with another power play marker 2:07 into the third period. Thomas earned the only assist on Guentzel's 25th goal of the year. Then, Thomas registered his 15th tally of the season with a power play strike of his own 14:24 into the final period. Michael Kapla and Guentzel assisted on the man-advantage marker. The Musketeers then landed the final nail with just four seconds left in regulation when Ryan Mantha threw a clearing attempt off the glass that caromed all the way down into an empty Lancers net. The unassisted tally was the first career USHL goal for Mantha.
Sioux City netminder Kyle Hayton earned the victory in goal after 29 saves on 30 shots. With the win, the first-year goaltender moved to 10-8-4 on the year. Meanwhile, Alex Lyon suffered the setback in cage for the Lancers despite 40 saves on 44 shots. The veteran goaltender is now 26-19-1 overall.
The Lancers are back in next Friday evening when the team heads back to the Lincoln Ice Box for a 7:05 PM showdown with the Stars.
United States Hockey League Stories from March 30, 2013
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- Guentzel's Hat Trick Fuels Sioux City's 5-1 Win over Lancers - Omaha Lancers
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