Lancers Kick off 2012 with 3-2 Win at Sioux Falls
Published on January 4, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
Sioux Falls, S.D. - Alex Lyon registered 28 saves and the Omaha Lancers kicked off the new calendar year with a 3-2 victory at the Sioux Falls Stampede Wednesday evening in front of 2,321 at the Sioux Falls Arena. With the win, Omaha improved to 16-10-2 on the year and moved to within one game and two points of the Western Conference-leading Lincoln Stars. The victory was the seventh for the Lancers over the last nine games while Sioux Falls suffered its ninth setback in the last 12 games.
Sioux Falls grabbed the game's opening goal just 1:40 into the tilt when Justin Selman found Nick Nielsen on the back door for Nielsen's fifth goal of the season. Eric Brenk grabbed the secondary assist on the goal, which marked just the 11th time in 25 games this season that the Stampede have scored the game's first goal. Omaha responded quickly though and evened the game just 1:35 later when Anthony Hamburg found Mark Miller in the slot who launched a one-time slap shot for his fourth goal of the year. Eli Lichtenwald garnered the secondary assist on the even strength marker notched 3:15 into the first period. The Lancers then grabbed their first lead of the night late in the opening period when a two-on-one between Michael Ferrantino and Ken Babinski produced Ferrantino's fifth goal of the season. Tanner Lane grabbed the secondary assist on the five-on-five goal scored 17:01 into the opening period of play.
Omaha landed the eventual game-winning marker 9:05 into the second period when Greg Gozzo won a battle for a loose puck in the Sioux Falls goal crease before depositing his 12th goal of the season. Ferrantino and Kevin Schulze assisted on the even strength marker, which moved Gozzo to within one goal of Omaha goal-scoring leader, Casey Bailey. The Stampede climbed back to within a single goal a little over a minute later when Todd Skirving drove in his team-leading ninth goal of the year. Joseph Lordo and Kyle Rankin assisted on the five-on-five tally netted 10:08 into the middle stanza.
But that was the last time Sioux Falls would solve Lyon as the Lancers were able to hang on for the team's seventh one-goal victory of the season and Omaha's first one-goal win since November 5th. The Lancers are now 7-1-2 in one-goal games this season.
Lyon earned the victory in goal after 28 saves on 30 Stampede shots. With the win, Lyon improved to 12-8-2 on the year and is now 3-0 against Sioux Falls this season. Meanwhile, Stampede netminder Charlie Lindgren suffered the loss despite 26 saves on 29 Lancers shots.
The Lancers are back in action Friday evening when they hit the ice for the first time at home in 2012 when they welcome the Des Moines Buccaneers to the Omaha Civic Auditorium.
United States Hockey League Stories from January 4, 2012
- U.S. National Under-17 Team Falls to Russia, 7-4, in Championship Game of World Under-17 Challenge - U.S. National Team
- Stampede Come up Short in 3-2 Loss to Omaha - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Lancers Kick off 2012 with 3-2 Win at Sioux Falls - Omaha Lancers
- U.S. National Junior Team Downs Switzerland, 2-1, in World Junior Championship Finale - U.S. National Team
- Sign up for January 13th "Dash for Cash" Prior to January 6th - Green Bay Gamblers
- Fighting Saints Acquire Goaltender Connor Girard - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Kenny Matheson to Return to Brockville - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Gamblers Raise Funds for Bay Beach - Green Bay Gamblers
- Grigory Dikushin to Play in Gold Medal Game - Green Bay Gamblers
- Ice Forward Kuraly and Goaltender Gillies Honored by USHL - Indiana Ice
- USHL Update - Week 14 - USHL
- Phantoms Have Chance to 'Get the Ball Rolling' in 2012 with Trio of Conference Games - Youngstown Phantoms
- Lumberjacks Log: New Year Starts with Busy Week - Muskegon Lumberjacks
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