Lancers Control Play to Defeat Storm

November 8, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Tri-City Storm News Release

KEARNEY, Neb. - The Omaha Lancers (11-2-1) got ahead early and stayed in front, defeating the Tri-City Storm (4-7-2) 5-2 on Friday night at the Viaero Event Center.

Joel L'Esperance and Chris Wilkie each scored late goals to keep the Storm in the game. For L'Esperance, it was his team-leading fifth tally, while Wilkie notched his second of the year.

The Storm had the better of the play for a large part of the opening period, but were unable to capitalize on their many chances and the game stayed scoreless late into the frame.

USHL leading scorer Jake Randolph netted his seventh goal of the season on a Lancer power play with 1:13 left on the clock in the first to give Omaha a 1-0 lead at the end of one.

To start the second period, the Lancers converted for the second time on a power play. Brendan Smith sniffed out an open Tucker Poolman, who rocketed one past Jacob Johansson that hit the upper corner of the net and put Omaha up 2-0.

The Lancers scored their third goal five minutes later when Randolph contributed once again, feeding the puck to fellow Lancer Jake Henderson, who scored his first goal of the season. Omaha led 3-0 after 40 minutes of play.

In the final period, Tri-City got themselves on the scoreboard with two goals. The Brighton, Mich. native L'Esperance scored the Storm's first goal of the evening on a nice feed from forward Steven Haydon.

Then while the Storm had an extra attacker on the ice in place of their goaltender Jacob Johansson, Wilkie found the back of the net off a loose rebound in front for the second Tri-City tally of the night.

Johansson finished the evening with 26 saves, while Omaha's Cole Bruns picked up his seventh win of the season, making 30 stops of his own.

Tri-City will take to the road, beginning a five game trip that starts with Dubuque next Friday at 7:35 p.m. The Storm will return home on Nov. 29-30 for a weekend series, a rematch with the Lancers at the Viaero Event Center.

United States Hockey League Stories from November 8, 2013

• Deuces Wild in Party Town - Waterloo Black Hawks
• Lancers Control Play to Defeat Storm - Tri-City Storm
• U.S. Jr Select Team Beats Switzerland, 7-4, in Semifinals of World Junior a Challenge - U.S. National Team
• Stampede Can't Stop Black Hawks Power Play in 4-2 Loss - Sioux Falls Stampede
• Lancers Stifle Storm, 5-2 - Omaha Lancers
• Franklin, Kravchenko & Knutson Led Team USA into Gold Medal Game - Sioux Falls Stampede
• Phantoms Snap Skid with 4-3 Shootout Win over Fargo - Youngstown Phantoms
• Muskegon Falls Victim to Dubuque's Power Play in Overtime Loss - Muskegon Lumberjacks
• Boje's Blast Gives Saints 3-2 Overtime Win over Muskegon - Dubuque Fighting Saints
• Ice to Salute America's Heroes Tomorrow Night - Indiana Ice
• U.S. National Under-18 Team Edged by Sweden, 3-2, at Four Nations Tournament - U.S. National Team
• U.S. Men's Select Team Falls to Slovakia, 4-3, in Opening Game of 2013 Deutschland Cup - U.S. National Team
• Hawks Salute Military Heroes - Waterloo Black Hawks
• US National U17 Team Downs Swiss, 8-2, in 4 Nations Opener - U.S. National Team

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