Lancers Storm Back, Drop Bucs 4-2
September 14, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
DES MOINES, IA - In the third of four 2013 preseason games, the Omaha Lancers battled back from down a pair of goals with four unanswered tallies in the second and third periods to defeat the Des Moines Buccaneers 4-2 Saturday at Buccaneer Arena in Des Moines. With the win, the Lancers improved to 2-0-1 in the preseason heading into their final exhibition clash of the season, a September 20th meeting with their in-state rivals, the Tri-City Storm, at the Moylan Tranquility IcePlex in Omaha.
Despite a dazzling first period display from Lancers starting netminder Hayden Hawkey, Des Moines took a 1-0 lead late in the period when Omaha native Ryan Galt tapped home a rebound effort at 16:53. The Buccaneers extended their lead early in the second on a seeing-eye point shot from Tyler Dorantes, but the Omaha response was quick in coming.
Less than a minute after Des Moines' second score, Lancers D-man Tucker Poolman coaxed a lengthy wrister through Buccaneer netminder Ryan Ruck to draw Omaha within a goal at 2-1. Determined to draw even before the second intermission, Ryan Tait turned a strong right-wing transition rush at 12:52 into a tap-home, one-time, game-tying goal for Brendan Smith, the Colorado native's first career USHL tally.
In the third period, the Lancer onslaught continued at 11:32, when Omaha defenseman Connor Light turned a neutral-zone turnover into his second game-winning goal in as many games thanks to a sizzling glove-side wrister. A shorthanded Gage Hough insurance marker at 14:40 rounded out the scoring, as the second-year winger buried a rebound chance off a Jacob Forsbacka-Karlsson shot.
While Hawkey impressed in the first half of regulation with a 17-save performance, veteran Lancers backstop Cole Bruns picked up right where Hawkey left off, stopping all ten of the Des Moines shots he faced in his second preseason appearance. Saturday's tandem goaltending performance was outshined only by the Lancers' stellar penalty killing effort, as Omaha shut down a potent Buccaneer power play on all seven of its Saturday opportunities.
Next up for the Lancers, it's the final preseason game of the year, a Friday showdown with the Tri-City Storm at Moylan-Tranquility Iceplex in Omaha on September 20th.
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 September 14, 2013
- Lancers Storm Back, Drop Bucs 4-2 - Omaha Lancers
- Ice Have Strong Showing in Fall Classic - Indiana Ice
- Lumberjacks Hold off Late Roughriders Charge for First Preseason Victory - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Malone Hat Trick, Third Period Outburst, Earns Fighting Saints 7-2 Win over Chicago - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Phantoms Let 3rd-Period Lead Slip Away against USA - Youngstown Phantoms
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