Lancers Weekly: Lancers Look to Roll Strong October into November
October 31, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
Ralston, NE - The Lancers wrap up an eight-game road trip with games at Tri-City and Sioux City this weekend before returning to Ralston Arena next weekend, November 11, for Military Appreciation Night. A split on the weekend kept the Lancers in 4th place in the Western Conference, one point out of third.
Need To Know:
* Connor Marshall became the fifth Lancer to score twice in a game with a pair of goals on Saturday night.
* 11 different Lancers have recorded multi-point games this season
* October was a good month for the Lancers posting a record of 6-3-0-0
Last Week
Friday, October 28 at Bloomington, L, 3-2
Saturday, October 29 at Bloomington, W, 3-2
This Week
Friday, November 4 at Tri-City
Saturday, November 5 at Sioux City
The Week in Review
The Lancers managed to tie the game up twice, but were never able to grab a lead as Bloomington topped Omaha 3-2 in Friday night's weekend opener.
Bloomington got on the board first when a centering pass was intercepted, then mishandled by the Lancers putting it into the back of the Omaha net to give Bloomington a 1-0 lead. The lead would stand through the end of the first period. Mitch Perrault's third of the season tied things up in the second on the power play.
In the third Bloomington got on the board first slamming home a loose puck rebound at the 7:33 mark of the period. With the pressure turned up and time winding down Brian Matthews knotted things up late in the third. Bloomington came right back down and answered as Marco Reifenberger picked up the eventual game winner with 4:40 left on the clock. The Thunder took night one 3-2.
Saturday night the Lancers looked to reverse the script scoring first. Defenseman Alex Mehnert lofted a shot towards the net from the right point that deflected off Connor Marshall and into the net giving the Lancers a 1-0 lead.
After Bloomington tied the game at 1-1, the Lancers retook the lead halfway through regulation. Connor Marshall became the fifth Lancer to find the back of the net twice in one game this season when he gave the Lancers a 2-1 lead at 10:19 of the period. Just over two minutes later the Lancer power play struck for the second straight game. Brian Matthews sent a shot from the left point towards the front of the net. Erlends Klavins, standing in the slot, redirected it past Logan Halladay for a 3-1 Omaha lead.
In the third Bloomington managed to cut the lead to one but that was as close as they would get. Jacob Acton, in his second straight start, made 25 saves on 27 shots en route to his first career USHL win. Acton recorded 46 saves on the weekend.
Success on the Kill:
The Lancers continued their success on the penalty kill this weekend holding the Thunder scoreless on seven power play opportunities. That success push the streak to five-consecutive games without giving up a man-advantage tally, tying last season's high. Dating back to the third period against Fargo on October 14 the Lancers have killed off 20 straight penalties. Omaha's power play has risen nearly 10% during that time to 82.1%, and five spots to ninth in the USHL.
Week Ahead
The Lancers wrap up the month-long road swing with a pair of games closer to home, traveling to Tri-City on Friday and Sioux City on Saturday. Omaha has seen both Tri-City and Sioux City once this season.
Friday night the Lancers make their first trip to Kearney. Tri-City and Omaha met at Ralston Arena earlier this season with the Lancers taking a 3-2 victory. Brannon McManus, Emilio Pettersen, and Filip Rydstrom all tallied for the Lancers in that contest.
Tri-City (5-4-0-2) comes into Friday night tied with the Lancers for fourth place in the Western Conference with 12 points. The Storm defeated Fargo on Friday night before dropping Saturday's contest 3-2 in a shootout.
Storm forward Alex Limoges (7g, 6a) comes into the weekend on a league-high six game goal streak. Defenseman Phillip Alftberg ranks second among blue liners in scoring with 8 points (3g, 5a).
Sioux City (7-3-1-0) enters the weekend three points ahead of the Lancers and in second place in the Western Conference. Sioux City won the only previous meeting between the teams 2-1 on September 24 at Tyson Events Center. Friday's contest will end a nine-game home stand for the Musketeers. The Musketeers have won five of their last seven games heading into the weekend.
Offensively Sioux City is led by a pair of high scoring Fins, Eeli Tolvanen (7g, 5a) and Aapeli Rasanen (1g, 7a). Matiss Kivlenieks has shouldered the load in net appearing in ten of 11 Musketeer games. Kivlenieks (7-2-1) has a 1.65 goals against average and a .936 save percentage heading into the weekend.
Alumni Notes:
NCAA:
Tyler Vesel recorded three points (2g, 1a) in Nebraska-Omaha's 5-1 victory over UMass-Lowell on Friday night. Michael Biglebach recorded his first NCAA point with an assist in Minnesota State's 4-2 victory on Friday. Shane Gersich picked up two points (1g, 1a) in North Dakota's 5-2 loss on Friday against Minnesota-Duluth. Hayden Hawkey stopped all 21 shots he faced against Brown on Sunday helping Providence to a 6-0 victory over the Brown Bears. Jacob Bryson added an assist.
AHL:
Thatcher Demko (Utica Comets), is still searching for his first professional win. The netminder made 29 saves on 32 shots in a loss to Providence. Forward Casey Bailey recorded a goal and assist over the weekend in three games for the Binghamton Senators. Matt White (MIL) had a big Sunday for the Admirals recording four points in the 7-3 victory over Rockford.
NHL:
Martin Hanzal (AZ) recorded points (1g, 1a) in back to back games against Colorado and Philadelphia.
Season tickets are on sale now! Full, half, and military plans available with flexible, interest-free payment plans and exclusive benefits. For more information contact the Lancers Front Office at 402-344-7825, Ext. 1 or visit www.lancers.com.
Be sure to follow the Lancers on Twitter @OmahaLancers and don't forget to "Like" the official "Omaha Lancers" page on Facebook.
United States Hockey League Stories from October 31, 2016
- U17 Team Edges Canada White - U.S. National Team
- McKay Commits to Holy Cross - Madison Capitols
- Storm Assistant Captain Joey Matthews Commits to Dartmouth College - Tri-City Storm
- Mackey Named CCM Defenseman of the Week - Green Bay Gamblers
- Berdin Named USHL Goaltender of the Week - Sioux Falls Stampede
- CCM Players of the Week - USHL
- Lancers Weekly: Lancers Look to Roll Strong October into November - Omaha Lancers
- Tri-City Storm on Season-Long Four Game Point Streak - Tri-City Storm
- U.S. Sled Hockey Teams to Train this Weekend in Madison, Wis. - U.S. National Team
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