Lancers Remain Dominant in New Year's Eve Matchups
January 1, 2024 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
SIOUX CITY, IA. - The Lancers were in search of their first points of the three-game weekend after falling to the Lincoln Stars in two hard-fought games by scores of 5-4 and 4-3. Tonight, they had the Sioux City Musketeers for their New Year's Eve Game. Historically, the Lancers are 11-1-2 against the Musketeers on December 31st, as they would look to stay dominant on said holiday.
The first period consisted of one goal scored by the Musketeers at the 12:25 mark off the stick of Sam Court for his sixth goal of the 2023-24 season. The fast puck movement was started by Max Strand and Finn Loftus, but Court finished it off with a short-side, high wrist shot to make it a 1-0 game in favor of Sioux City through 20 minutes.
The Lancers had the only two powerplays through the opening period, but couldn't get a lot going as their special teams were silenced.
The second period changed the energy in the building as Sioux City added to their lead just over the halfway mark of the frame with a one-timer goal by Kaden Shahan.
From there, the Lancers tallied two unanswered with Nick Pierre dangling through defenseman to go top-shelf on Musketeers Goaltender, Ajay White, followed by Jamison Sluys burying a power-play goal for his fourth of the weekend to lock the game at two.
The 2-2 tie did not last as Kevin Fitzgerald jumped in with the offense and sent another one-timer over the blocker of Lancers' Goalie Lucas Szyszka to regain their one goal lead.
However, with under a minute remaining, David Deputy found Ethan Fredericks on the rush who send a close-range 'scoop shot' to retie the game a three goals apiece heading into the third period.
Third period action was controlled by Sioux City as they led in the shot column 8-5 in the final 20 minutes. Szyszka and White were able to stop everything thrown their way in the fast-paced period, forcing the game into overtime locked 3-3.
Both teams got a rush early in the period, but were not successful. But just 55 seconds into the three-on-three play, Noah Jones pressured Ethan Gardula into a defensive zone turnover. Jones got the stick lift and poke checked the loose puck to Pierre who shoveled the puck by the glove of White for the game-winner. Giving Pierre his second goal of the night against his former club.
With the 4-3 overtime victory, the Lancers improved to 12-1-2 on New Year's Eve matchups in their history, with the majority of those games coming against the Sioux City Musketeers.
The Lancers will be hitting the road to make the long trek to Youngstown, Ohio to take on the Youngstown Phantoms this Thursday, January 4th, 2024. Puck drop is set for 7:05PM EST. The game will be available on FloSports and Mixlr.
United States Hockey League Stories from January 1, 2024
- Sunday Rewind: Taking a Look at Last Night's Five Games in the USHL - USHL
- $16.50 for Local Conservation - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Stars Prevail in Shootout to Sweep Weekend Tripleheader - Lincoln Stars
- Lancers Remain Dominant in New Year's Eve Matchups - Omaha Lancers
- The Aftermath: Storm Drops Shootout Decision to Stars - Tri-City Storm
- Fighting Saints Fall in 2023 Finale in Waterloo - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Hawks End 2023 with a Win - Waterloo Black Hawks
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