Lancers Weekly
December 2, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
RALSTON, NE - In an unorthodox week schedule-wise that included a Wednesday game and the Thanksgiving holiday, the Omaha Lancers claimed three wins in four nights on the road, defeating the Des Moines Buccaneers on Wednesday and the Tri-City Storm on Friday and Saturday to improve to 17-3-2 overall this season and cement their position atop not only the Western Conference, but also the overall USHL standings. On Wednesday at Buccaneer Arena in Des Moines, Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson turned in a career-best performance notching a goal and two assists, including a helper on Tyler Hynes' game-winning goal, in a 5-2 Omaha win. Then on Friday, the Lancers vaulted to victory over Tri-City thanks to a pair of goals from the USHL's leading goal scorer, Tyler Vesel, that both came in the final minute of regulation in a 5-3 victory. As if that performance wasn't dramatic enough, Omaha defenseman Connor Light repeated the feat on Saturday, steaming home a high-slot wrister with just 28 seconds left in the game to deliver the Lancers a 2-1 win and a weekend sweep of the Storm at Viaero Event Center in Kearney, Nebraska. Next up for the Lancers, it's a pair of weekend showdowns with the Fargo Force (5-12-2, 12 pts., tied for seventh place in Western Conference) on Friday and Saturday at Ralston Arena at 7:05 pm. The Lancers are unbeaten in two games vs. the Force this year and the last time these teams got together in Omaha, the Lancers defeated Fargo by a 5-0 final score. On Friday, the Lancers encourage their fans to bring a plush toy to donate during the Lancers' annual " Teddy Bear Toss ", presented by Bank of the West, and on Saturday, the Lancers host " Wine, Women and Hockey Night ", presented by Celerion.
LANCERS NOTES:
OMAHA LANCERS (17-3-2), 36 pts., 1st in Western Conference, W3
- Lancers G Cole Bruns (16GP, 11-3-2, 6 SO, 1.81 GAA, .932 S%) leads the USHL in shutouts and goals-against average, is tied for first in wins and ranks second in save percentage.
- Omaha F Jake Randolph (11G, 30A - 41 PTS) continues to lead the league in assists and points and is tied for the USHL lead in plus/minus (+24) and power-play assists (11).
- The leading goal scorer in the USHL, Tyler Vesel (19G, 14A - 33 PTS) is also leading the league in game winning goals (4) and is tied for the USHL lead in plus/minus (+24) and tied for second league-wide in power-play goals (5).
- The Lancers traded F Alex Rauter to the Youngstown Phantoms Monday in exchange for a conditional pick in the 2014 USHL draft.
- As a team, the Lancers rank second league-wide in goals for (85) and have allowed the USHL's fewest goals (43).
- The Lancers are 2-0-0 against the Force this year with a goal differential of +7 (9-2) and a power-play percentage of 33.3% (3/9). Omaha has yet to allow a power-play goal against Fargo this season (0/9, 100.0%).
- The Lancers boast the USHL's top power-play this season (24.7%) and second-best penalty-kill (91.4%).
- The Lancers allow the USHL's fewest goals-against per game this season (1.95), the only sub-two league average this year.
OPPONENT NOTES:
FARGO FORCE (5-12-2), 12 pts., T7th in Western Conference, L1
- As a team, the Force rank fifth in the USHL with 18.2 penalty minutes per game this season.
- Fargo's leading scorer is F Frederik Tiffels (4G, 6A - 10 PTS), acquired in November via trade from the Muskegon Lumberjacks.
- The Force rank dead last in the USHL this season in total goals scored (32), goals-for per game (1.68), goals-against per game (3.74), shots-for per game (26.8) and shots-against per game (38.1).
- Fargo ranks second-worst in the USHL in overall power-play percentage (10.9%), away power-play percentage (8.0%) and overall penalty-kill percentage (77.1%), but ranks ninth league- wide with a penalty-kill percentage of 80.4% on the road.
United States Hockey League Stories from December 2, 2013
- Lancers Weekly - Omaha Lancers
- Lancers Trade Rauter to Youngstown - Omaha Lancers
- Cal Petersen USHL Goalie of the Week - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Knutson, Duchesne, and Petersen Earn Weekly USHL Honors - USHL
- Stampede's Knutson & Duchesne Named USHL Players of the Week - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Ice Weekly - Indiana Ice
- Stampede Teddy Bear Toss & Holiday Sale this Saturday - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Waterloo Black Hawks Name Players of the Week - Waterloo Black Hawks
- NHL Veteran Assiting Buccaneers this Week - Des Moines Buccaneers
- Cooper Marody Commits to Michigan - Muskegon Lumberjacks
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