Lancers Earn 5-2 Victory in Rivalry Showdown with Lincoln
Published on January 7, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
Omaha, Neb. - Ken Babinski scored two goals and the Omaha Lancers matched a season-high with three power play goals in dropping the Lincoln Stars 5-2 Saturday evening in front of 4,155 fans at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. With the win, Omaha improved to 18-10-2 on the year and has now moved into a tie for first place in the Western Conference alongside Lincoln. The win also stretched the Lancers home winning streak to five straight games while Omaha has now captured victories in nine of its last 11 outings.
Omaha opened the scoring 9:33 into the first period when, while on the power play, Anthony Hamburg snapped a sharp angle shot from the left wing that rattled off the post before settling inside the Lincoln cage. Greg Gozzo and Victor Newell assisted on Hamburg's fourth goal of the season, which marked the 14th time this season that the Lancers have scored the game's opening tally. Lincoln answered right back though and evened the game just two and a half minutes later when Brent Tate won a battle for a loose puck atop the Omaha goal crease before depositing his seventh goal of the season. Kevin Roy and Brad Hawkinson assisted on the even strength marker netted 11:58 into the opening period of play.
The Lancers regained the lead 8:18 into the second when a poke check at center ice by Kenney Morrison created a two-on-one between Casey Bailey and Jimmy Murray resulting in Murray's seventh goal of the season. The power play tally marked the seventh time this season that Omaha has scored multiple man advantage goals in a single game. The Lancers then doubled their lead a little over five minutes later when Michael Ferrantino sent a perfect pass from below the Lincoln goal line into the slot, which was promptly stashed home by Babinski. Bailey earned the secondary assist on the five-on-five goal scored 14:32 into the middle stanza.
The Lancers stretched their lead to a 4-1 advantage just prior to the midway point of the third period when, while on a five-on-three power play, Babinski launched a wrist shot from the high slot for second goal of the game and fifth of the season. Bailey and Morrison assisted on the power play goal scored 9:37 into the final frame of regulation. Lincoln surged back to within two with a power play goal of its own when Kevin Roy netted his USHL-leading 24th goal of the season but that's as close as the Stars would get. The Lancers made the final dent of the score sheet with 34 seconds left when Tanner Lane netted his fifth goal of the season into an empty.
Alex Lyon earned the victory in goal for Omaha after an impressive 34 saves on 36 Stars shots on goal. With the win, Lyon improved to 13-8-2 on the year and is now 2-1 this season against the Stars. Meanwhile, Jackson Teichroeb suffered the loss in goal for Lincoln despite 34 saves on 38 Lancers shots.
The Lancers are back in next Friday evening when they head to Sioux Falls for a 7:05 PM showdown with the Stampede.
United States Hockey League Stories from January 7, 2012
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