Lancers Sweep Tri-City with Rivera's OT-Winner
April 9, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
Omaha Lancers Battle the Tri-City Storm
(Omaha Lancers)
Ralston, NE - In yet another thriller between the Omaha Lancers and Tri-City Storm, the final game was decided in overtime. Captain Nick Rivera scored at 5:12 of the extra period to give the Lancers a 5-4 lead and a weekend sweep of the conference-leading Storm on Saturday night at the Viaero Center.
A good bounce from the left point helped the Storm convert to take a 1-0 lead in the first period. Storm captain Tory Dello received a pass from Alex Limoges and took a shot from the left point that deflected off of Omaha's JC MacLean at the hash marks. The puck went right to Collin Rutherford and he lifted it over the left shoulder of Lancers goaltender Zackarias Skog for the lead. The goal was Rutherford's fourth of the year and came at the 12:00 mark of the first with assists from Dello and Limoges.
In the second period, the Lancers scored twice in under three minutes to quickly take their first lead of the night. Michael Joyaux started the scoring on the power play just 2:25 into the period. Mitch Perrault sent a pass to Joyaux just inside the blue line and he sent a one-timer on net that sailed by Storm goaltender Dayton Rasmussen to tie the game. The goal was Joyaux's fourth of the year with the only assist to Mitch Perrault and Matt Meier.
Less than three minutes later, the Lancers took a one-goal lead. Cody Fleckenstein took the puck in the neutral zone and started his own rush over the blue line. Just as he crossed over the line, Fleckenstein fired a shot that split the defense and was stopped by Dayton Rasmussen. The rebound sat at the bottom of the left circle and Fleckenstein lifted it over the shoulder of Rasmussen for his second goal in as many games to give the Lancers a 2-1 lead. The goal was his second of the year and came at the 5:04 mark with assists from Nathan Krusko and Matt Meier.
The lead for Omaha didn't last long as the Storm tied the game back up. Carson Meyer took a pass from Nico Sturm and slid the puck under the pads of Zackarias Skog for his 32nd goal of the year. Meyer's tally tied the game, 2-2, at 5:49 of the second period with the only assist going to Sturm.
In the third period two players scored their first USHL goals to move the game to a 3-3 tie. Tri-City's Brian Hawkinson and Omaha's Noah Cates both scored just minutes apart. Hawkinson's goal came at 13:30 to give the Storm a 3-2 lead while Cates responded at 15:24 to tie the game, 3-3.
On the power play, Nick Rivera's pass to Brannon McManus helped Omaha take back the lead late in regulation. On the left side of the crease, Rivera slid the puck to McManus and he tapped it by Dayton Rasmussen to give the Lancers a 4-3 lead with 1:28 left in the game. The goal was McManus' 17th of the season.
The Storm stuck around all night and did so with their net empty and the extra-attacker on the ice, Brandon Duhaime buried the shot by goaltender Zackarias Skog to tie the game, 4-4, and eventually force overtime with 0:30 left in the game.
In extra time, Omaha Lancers captain Nick Rivera, playing in his final game, wrapped the puck around on the side of the net and ended the game in overtime with his 23rd of the season and the 5-4 victory. Assists on the game-winning goal were credited to Josh French and Nick Jenny.
The Lancers host their end of the season awards banquet tomorrow afternoon to wrap up the 30th Anniversary campaign.
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 Omaha Lancers Battle the Tri-City Storm |
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United States Hockey League Stories from April 9, 2016
- Fighting Saints Win Regular Season Finale - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Steel Strike In Overtime For 5-4 Win Saturday - Chicago Steel
- Thank You for Your Support - Sioux City Musketeers
- Thunder Wrap up Regular Season in Overtime - Bloomington Thunder
- Collin Adams Nets Hat Trick in Season Finale - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Hawks Alumni Are National Champs - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Stampede's Win Streak Snapped in Regular Season Finale in Fargo - Sioux Falls Stampede
- First Round Playoff Dates Announced - Green Bay Gamblers
- Gamblers Finish Regular Season with Win - Green Bay Gamblers
- Saints Win, No Impact - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Lancers Sweep Tri-City with Rivera's OT-Winner - Omaha Lancers
- Phantoms End Season on High Note, Top USA for Seventh Straight Win - Youngstown Phantoms
- Gamblers Beat Stars, 3-1 - Lincoln Stars
- Phantoms Sign Forward Max Ellis to USHL Tender - Youngstown Phantoms
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