Lancers Close 2012 with 5-4 Victory in Sioux City
Published on December 31, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
Sioux City, Iowa - The Omaha Lancers received goals from five different goal scorers Monday evening as the team hung on for a 5-4 victory over the Sioux City Musketeers in front of 4,088 fans at the Tyson Events Center. With the win, Omaha improved to 17-13 on the year and maintained sole possession of fifth place in the Western Conference with 34 standings points. The Lancers have now won six of their last eight games and 13 of 17 overall. The victory was Omaha's league-leading 12th one-goal win of the season as the team improved to 12-5 in one-goal games this year.
Sioux City opened the scoring less than three minutes into the contest when, while on the power play, Tanner Pond redirected Jared Thomas' centering pass at the top of the goal crease for his ninth goal of the season. Joe Snively earned the secondary assist on the man-advantage marker netted 2:42 into the opening period of play. The goal marked the 14th time in 30 games this season that the Lancers have surrendered the game's first goal as the team improved to 4-10 when allowing the game's first goal this year. After being outshot 7-0 to start the game, Omaha bounced back at the close of the period notching 10 of the frame's final 12 shots including the team's first two conversions of the night. First, off a clean face off win in the offensive zone, Robbie Baillargeon's pass to the wing redirected off a Sioux City skater at the top of the crease before rolling over the goal line. The unassisted even strength strike came 16:30 into the first period and was Baillargeon's 10th goal of the season and fourth in as many games with the Lancers. Then, the Lancers grabbed their first lead of the night just over two minutes later when, while on the power play, Baillargeon's left wing shot produced a rebound at the top of the crease which was promptly punched in by Connor Chatham for his team-leading 11th goal of the season. Matias Cleland garnered the secondary assist on Chatham's team-leading 11th goal of the season, and Omaha's 18th power play goal in 18 road games this year.
The Lancers stretched their lead to a two-goal advantage early in the second period when off another clean face off win in the offensive zone, Trent Samuels-Thomas triggered a right wing shot into the upper left hand corner of the goal for his first goal of the season. Tyler Moy grabbed the only assist on the five-on-five marker netted 1:50 into the middle frame. Sioux City trimmed the deficit back to a single goal a little over five minutes later when Thomas threw a shot from below the goal line that bounced off the pad of Lancers goaltender Alex Lyon and into the back of the net. Michael Holland earned the only assist on Thomas' fourth goal of the season.
The Lancers bounced back though and notched a pair of goals in the first 10 minutes of the final period to jump out to a 5-2 advantage. First, Matt Gaudreau spun a wrist shot from the slot through traffic and past Sioux City netminder Kyle Hayton for his second goal of the season. The unassisted even strength strike came just 2:32 into the final frame. Then, Omaha jumped out to its largest lead of the night just prior to the midway point of the third period when Gage Hough's centering feed on a two-on-one deflected off a Sioux City skater in the slot for his fourth goal of the season and first game-winning tally of the year. The Musketeers didn't back down though and climbed back to within a single goal with a pair of markers in the final eight minutes. First, J.T. Stenglein, who led all skaters with 10 shots on goal, backhanded in his 12th goal of the season 11:11 into the third period. Then, with Hayton pulled in favor of the extra attacker, Christian Lampasso tapped in his 10th goal of the season with just 11 seconds remaining. That's as close as Sioux City would get though as Omaha prevailed for its 17th win of the season.
Lyon earned the victory in goal after 30 saves on 34 Musketeers shots. With the win, the veteran netminder improved to 12-10 on the year and has now won nine of his last 11 appearances. Meanwhile, Hayton suffered the loss after 22 saves on 27 shots moving to 1-5-1 on the year.
The Lancers are back in action this Friday evening when the team returns home to Ralston Arena to open up a weekend series with the Fargo Force.
United States Hockey League Stories from December 31, 2012
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- Lancers Close 2012 with 5-4 Victory in Sioux City - Omaha Lancers
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