Lancers' Offense Erupts in 5-4 Overtime Win Over Dubuque
Published on November 5, 2011 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
Omaha, NE - The Omaha Lancers erupted for a season-high five goals Saturday in outlasting the Dubuque Fighting Saints 5-4 in overtime in front of 2,221 fans at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. With the win, the Lancers improved to 6-3-1 on the year and moved into sole possession atop the Western Conference with 13 standings points. Omaha has now won six of its last eight games overall. Meanwhile, the overtime loss snapped Dubuque's seven-game winning streak overall and the team's five-game winning streak on the road.
Dubuque grabbed the game's opening goal 7:20 into period one when Eric Freschi converted a rebound in the slot for his second goal of the season. Shane Walsh and Michael Downing assisted on the five-on-five even strength tally, which marked just the fourth time in 10 games this season that the Lancers have surrendered the game's first goal. Omaha responded quickly and evened the game just under a minute and a half later when, while on the power play, brilliant passing on the right wing from Jimmy Murray and Eli Lichtenwald produced Casey Bailey's second goal of the season. The man advantage marker was Omaha's fourth power play strike of the season and it came 8:49 into the opening period of play.
The two teams continued to trade goals in the middle period as Omaha regained the lead 10:01 into the second period when Greg Gozzo connected on his second goal of the season only to have Dubuque even the contest just 1:41 later when Shane Walsh blasted home a power play marker for his fourth goal of the season. The Lancers bounced right back though and reclaimed the lead just 23 seconds later when Gozzo set up Kenny Gillespie for his first career USHL goal 12:05 into the middle stanza. The Fighting Saints evened the contest once again with just 14 seconds left in the period when Lawrence Cornellier solved Omaha goaltender Alex Lyon on the glove side for his first career USHL marker.
Omaha jumped back in front just 1:41 into the third when a relentless forecheck from Jonathan Liau, Mark Miller and Ken Babinski resulted in Liau's third goal of the season. Dubuque would find the equalizing marker once again though as, with goaltender Gabe Antoni back to the bench in favor of the extra attacker, Zemgus Girgensons stashed in his team-leading eighth goal of the season with just 16 seconds left in regulation.
The resilient Lancers weren't phased and landed the final strike 2:04 into overtime when Miller snapped in his first goal of the season. Kevin Schulze and Dominic Racobaldo assisted on the game-winning strike as Omaha improved to 6-0-1 in one-goal games this season.
Lyon (5-1-1) earned the victory in goal after 26 saves on 30 Fighting Saints shots. Meanwhile, Dubuque's Antoni (5-0-1) suffered his first loss of any variety after 22 saves on 27 saves. The loss marked the first time this season the Fighting Saints have surrendered more than four goals against in a single game.
The Lancers are back in action tomorrow evening when they welcome the Chicago Steel Phantoms to the Omaha Civic Auditorium for a 5:05 PM showdown.
United States Hockey League Stories from November 5, 2011
- Tri-City outshoots Sioux Falls 40-38, Lappin extends point streak to five games - Tri-City Storm
- Phantoms Remain Unbeaten at Home with 4-3 Shootout Win Over Indiana - Youngstown Phantoms
- Stampede Top Tri-City, 3-2 - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Lancers' Offense Erupts in 5-4 Overtime Win Over Dubuque - Omaha Lancers
- Wilcox Keys Gambler Win - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Fighting Saints Fall in OT to Lancers 5-4 Saturday - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Cedar Rapids Squeezes Past Jacks at Home - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Storm's Comeback Against Omaha Falls Short, 3-2 - Tri-City Storm
- Phantoms Cut Down by Lumberjacks - Youngstown Phantoms
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