Lancers Fall To Lumberjacks In Shootout, 3-2
Published on March 28, 2014 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
MUSKEGON, MI - In the final tilt of the teams' two-game season series, the Omaha Lancers gave the Muskegon Lumberjacks all they could handle in an ultra-tight 3-2 shootout loss on Friday at L.C. Walker Arena in Muskegon, Michigan. With the shootout loss, the Lancers improved to 37-14-6 overall this season and with 80 points, remain alone in second place in the USHL's Western Conference standings, five points shy of the first place Waterloo Black Hawks with three games remaining in the regular season.
In a slow-to-develop first period, Muskegon found the back of the net first, as Trevor Morbek wedged home an in-close tapper at 11:47 to make it 1-0 Lumberjacks. After failing to convert on the opening period's only power-play, the Lancers kept up the pressure late in the frame and tied the game at one when leading USHL scorer Jake Randolph wired home a transition rebound at 17:23 with Niklas Folin and Luca Frigo registering assists on the play.
In a carbon copy of the first period, the 'Jacks pulled ahead again early in the middle stanza thanks to a Joseph Cecconi goal that came just 2:24 into the frame. Ten minutes later, however, the Lancers manufactured their second tying score of the evening, as a hard-working Brian Williams play turned into the equalizer at 12:04, a shorthanded score that leveled things at two heading into the third.
In the wake of a scoreless third period that featured a bevy of scoring chances both ways, the Lancers survived a scare in the first minute of overtime when leading USHL goal scorer Matt Iacopelli rang a transition chance off the crossbar for Muskegon and after the remainder of overtime, the two teams tangled in a shootout.
Randolph appeared to have scored in the first round of the shootout for the Lancers, but Muskegon goaltender Eric Schierhorn was ruled to have made contact with the puck before Randolph powered home his opportunity and therefore the play was ruled a stop for the Lumberjacks. Muskegon registered subsequent goals from Jake Rowe and Matej Paulovic in the next two rounds while a third-round score for Tait was not enough for Omaha to push the shootout into a fourth frame.
Lancers goaltender Hayden Hawkey was sensational in defeat, supplying the Lancers with multiple highlight-reel stops down the stretch to keep Omaha's hopes alive. When all was said and done Friday, the Parker, Colorado native and Providence College recruit compiled a career-best 39 saves on career-high 41 pucks faced.
Next up for the Lancers, their regular-season ending six-game road trip continues Saturday at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube in Ann Arbor, Michigan with a 6:05 pm CST clash scheduled between Omaha and USA Hockey's National Team Development Program U-18 squad. Full coverage of Saturday's game begins with the "Valpak Pregame Show" at 5:50 pm CST on the Lancers' flagship station, "The Mighty" 1290 KOIL with Lancers broadcaster Tony Brown providing the play-by-play.
In 2013-14, the five-time Anderson Cup and seven-time Clark Cup Champion Omaha Lancers drop the puck on their 28th season in the USHL. Season ticket packages for the Lancers' second campaign at the state-of-the-art Ralston Arena are available now starting at just $12.50 per game! To reserve your seats, contact the Lancers' ticket office today at 402-344-7825, extension 1, or log on to www.lancers.com for more information. Be sure to follow the Lancers on Twitter @OmahaLancers and don't forget to 'Like' the official "Omaha Lancers" fan page on Facebook.
United States Hockey League Stories from March 28, 2014
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- Ice Survive Late Dubuque Goal to Claim 5-4 Win Friday - Dubuque Fighting Saints
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- Stampede Come up Just Short against Musketeers in Front of Record Setting Crowd at the Arena - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Muskegon Fends off Omaha with Shootout Winner from Matej Paulovic - Muskegon Lumberjacks
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- NTDP Set to Host Baseball Night in Ann Arbor on April 4 - U.S. National Team
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