Lancers Earn Dramatic 5-4 Shootout Victory Over Lincoln
Published on February 10, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
Omaha, Neb. - Kenney Morrison scored two power play goals and Thatcher Demko was a perfect 6-for-6 in the shootout as the Omaha Lancers outlasted the Lincoln Stars for a dramatic 5-4 victory in front of 5,194 fans at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. With the win, Omaha improved to 25-12-3 on the year and improved to a Western Conference-best 53 standings points. The Lancers have now won five straight head-to-head meetings with Lincoln and are 5-1 against the Stars this season.
Omaha grabbed the game's first goal and the only marker of the first period when, while on the power play, Kenney Morrison launched a left point one-timer past the glove of Stars goaltender Charles Williams and into the back of the Lincoln net. Nolan Zajac and Casey Bailey assisted on the man advantage marker notched 16:09 into the opening period. The goal, Morrison's seventh of the season, marked the 21st time in 40 games this season that the Lancers have scored the game's first goal.
Lincoln evened the game 8:19 into the second period with a power play goal of its own when Kevin Roy buried his league-leading 32nd goal of the season. In a penalty-filled period, the Lancers regained the lead with a five-on-three power play goal on a one-timer in the slot from Mark Miller. Anthony Hamburg and Kevin Schulze assisted on Miller's seventh goal of the season scored 14:54 into the middle stanza. Omaha doubled its lead just 37 seconds later when Morrison buried his second goal of the game and second power play marker of the night 15:31 into the second period. Nolan Zajac and Jimmy Murray assisted on Morrison's eighth goal of the season - all of which have been scored on the power play. The Stars climbed back to within a single goal 16:42 into the period when Dominick Shine won a battle for a loose puck atop the Omaha goal crease before driving home his third goal of the season. Freibergs and Brent Tate assisted on the man-advantage marker, which closed a second period that featured four combined power play goals and 70 of the game's total 94 penalty minutes.
The Stars evened the game 8:29 into the final period when Jared Hanson rifled in his first of two goals in the period and his 19th this season. Roy and Matt Friese assisted on the first even strength goal scored in the game. The Lancers regained the lead just over a minute later when Murray slipped behind the Lincoln defense before sending in his 14th goal of the season. Bailey and Greg Gozzo assisted on the goal, which extended Murray's points streak to six straight games and his goal-scoring streak to five consecutive tilts. Lincoln evened the game once again 13:25 into the period when Hanson buried his second goal of the game and 20th of the season.
After a scoreless overtime, Hamburg netted the game-winner in the shootout after Demko turned aside all six Lincoln attempts. All tolled, Demko registered 28 saves on 32 shots in earning his sixth victory of the season. With the win, Demko improved to 6-3 on the season. Meanwhile, Williams suffered the shootout defeat for the Stars after 18 saves on 22 shots.
The Lancers are back in action tomorrow evening when they welcome the Waterloo Black Hawks to the Omaha Civic Auditorium for a 7:05 PM showdown.
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