Lancers Edge Steel, 6-4
Published on March 2, 2018 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
Geneva, IL - The top-ranked Omaha Lancers traveled to Geneva to face the Chicago Steel on Friday night. This was the first matchup between the Eastern and Western Conference teams. Head Coach David Wilkie started all of the players from the Chicagoland area to play before their family and friends. Vinnie Purpura got the green light to play between the pipes, along with the other Chicagoland natives; Jack Randl, Michael Maloney, Mathieu De St Phalle, and Tyler Carpenter. Omaha welcomed new forward, Ryan Savage to the ice, who was picked up by the Lancers on Monday from the Fargo Force.
In the first period, it was Jesper Peltonen to get his second of the season and the first on the board for Omaha. Peltonen was assisted by Noah Cates and Filip Suchy on the goal. Chicago tied it up with a goal from Robert Mastroimone. The game stayed tied, 1-1 into the first intermission.
In the second period, Jack Dugan struck to get the Steel ahead on the power play. Then the hometown boy, Jack Randl got the Lancers on the board on the power play. With two minutes left in the period and on the power play again, Filip Suchy scored to get the Lancers ahead 3-2. But with under a minute, Graham Lillibridge snuck the puck under Purpura to tie it up 3-3 heading into the second intermission.
In the third period, Noah Cates scored on the wrap-around to get the Lancers ahead. Filip Suchy scored his second of the night. Chicago pulled Robbins for the extra attacker but was unsuccessful as Travis Mitchell snapped the puck from the Omaha zone into the Chicago net. The Steel scored late with a slap shot from John Spetz. The Lancers held on to top the Steel, 6-4.
Vinnie Purpura stopped 35 of the 39 shots that he faced.
The Lancers improve to 31-11-2-1 with 65 points and still hold their spot at first place in the USHL.
Three Stars:
1 - Filip Suchy
2 - Noah Cates
3 - Vinnie Purpura
What's Next:
Lancers: Travel to Plymouth Michigan to face Team USA NTDP 17U's on Saturday, March 3rd (7:05 p.m. ET; News Talk 1290 AM, Hockey TV).
United States Hockey League Stories from March 2, 2018
- Stars Secure Overtime Win over Waterloo, 3-2 - Lincoln Stars
- Stars Edge Hawks in OT - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Stampede Top Bucs in Shootout - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Phantoms Battle to 5-3 Win over Madison - Youngstown Phantoms
- Steel Fall to Lancers 6-4 Friday - Chicago Steel
- Storm Fall at Home to RoughRiders 4-1 - Tri-City Storm
- Phantom Menace - Madison Capitols
- Gamblers Fall at Home - Green Bay Gamblers
- Saints Weather the Storm, Edge Lumberjacks - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Lancers Edge Steel, 6-4 - Omaha Lancers
- Durham Makes 48 Saves, Leads Dubuque Past Muskegon - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Phantoms to Hold 2018 Selection Camp and Tryouts May 24th - 28th - Youngstown Phantoms
- Preview: Storm Host Cedar Rapids for "Pack It in Purple" - Tri-City Storm
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