USHL Omaha Lancers

Lancers Hold off Storm, 5-4, in Front of 3,732

Published on April 8, 2016 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release


Omaha Lancers vs. the Tri-City Storm
Omaha Lancers vs. the Tri-City Storm
(Omaha Lancers)

Ralston, NE - In a back-and-forth game, Matt Meier scored the game-winning goal on the power play with 5:17 left in the game for a 5-4 victory over the conference-leading Tri-City Storm in the final home game of the year. The crowd of 3,732 was the 14th sellout of the season at Ralston Arena.

After taking a hard hit in his defensive zone, Paul Washe raced down the ice and gave the Storm an early one-goal lead. From the right wing wall in the offensive zone, Jake Wahlin sent a hard pass to the top of the crease where Washe angled it in just 1:48 into the game. The goal was Washe's ninth of the season with assists from Wahlin and Walker Duehr.

Omaha responded thanks to the captain, Nick Rivera. In the offensive zone, Rivera took the puck below the goal line and put on the brakes. The California native stuffed the puck around the left skate of Storm goaltender Jake Kielly for his 22nd of the year to tie the game at the 5:56 mark of the first period. Brannon McManus and Michael Joyaux were each credited with an assist.

Less than a minute later, Brannon McManus gave the Lancers their first lead of the night. After a shot block in the defensive zone just inside the blue line, McManus was all alone through the neutral zone. After going forehand-to-backhand, McManus lifted the puck over the blocker of Jake Kielly for Omaha's first lead of the night, 2-1, at 6:37 of the first. The lone assist went to Nathan Krusko.

Tri-City scored on the power play to even the score at two goals apiece. Carson Meyer let a shot go from the point that was stopped originally by Lancers goaltender Zackarias Skog. The rebound landed to his side and sat at the top of the crease. After a scramble, Jake Wahlin had the final touch by locating the loose puck and firing it in for his 15th of the year with only 2:39 left in the first. Assists were given to Meyer and Mattias Goransson to tie the game, 2-2.

Just when the game looked to be tied after the first period, Cody Fleckenstein scored his first goal in the USHL to take back the lead for the Omaha Lancers. Brannon McManus chased down a loose puck by the goal line along the right wing wall. Fleckenstein jumped into the slot, took the pass from McManus, and ripped the shot by Jake Kielly's glove for the 3-2 lead with just 4.2 seconds left in the opening frame. The first assist went to McManus with Nathan Krusko getting credit for the secondary assist.

The final four goals of the game were all on the power play. In the second period, Tri-City's Alex Limoges scored the only goal of the middle period with assists from Dan Labosky and Tory Dello. The goal came at 6:25 and tied the game heading into the third period.

Austin Alger started the scoring in the final period for the Lancers. On the power play, Matt Meier played the puck to Alger in the hash marks and he beat Jake Kielly with the quick shot to give Omaha another one-goal lead, 4-3, with 13:30 left in the game. Matt Meier and Michael Joyaux had the assists on the go-ahead tally.

The Storm stuck around thanks to the power play as well. From inside the left wing circle, Brandon Duhaime fired the puck through traffic and it went under the left arm of goaltender Zackarias Skog to tie the game once again. The goal was Duhaime's ninth of the season with the assists coming from Walker Duehr and Andrew Peski just 1:30 after Austin Alger scored.

However, with 5:17 left in the game, a shot from the point got deflected and the Lancers took their final lead of the night. Michael Joyaux received a pass from Mitch Perrault at the center point just above the circles. Joyaux let a shot go that Matt Meier deflected in front of the net for his ninth of the year and the game-winning goal. Joyaux and Perrault were given the assists and the Lancers held on for the one-goal win.

Zackarias Skog stopped 22 shots in the win in front of 3,732 fans at Ralston Arena.

The Lancers finish their season tomorrow on the road against the Tri-City Storm. Puck drops inside the Viaero Event Center at 7:05 p.m. Can't make it? Fans can listen live to the game beginning right at 6:50 p.m. CT with the Valpak Pregame Show on News Talk 1290, the Omaha Lancers Mobile App, online at www.mighty1290koil.com, and www.FASTHockey.com.

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Omaha Lancers vs. the Tri-City Storm
Omaha Lancers vs. the Tri-City Storm
   



United States Hockey League Stories from April 8, 2016


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