Lebedev's Hat Trick Fuels Indiana's 6-3 Win Over Lancers
Published on February 18, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
Omaha, Neb. - Kirill Lebedev scored three goals and Sean Kuraly added a goal and two assists as the Indiana Ice doubled up the Omaha Lancers 6-3 Saturday evening in front of 4,617 fans at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. Following the setback, the Lancers moved to 26-14-3 on the season but continue to lead the Western Conference with 55 standings points. The loss was just Omaha's sixth regulation setback over the last 24 games.
Indiana opened the scoring 7:12 into period one when Lebedev snapped a left wing wrist shot over the glove of Lancers goaltender Alex Lyon for his fifth goal of the season. Daniil Tarasov and Kuraly assisted on the even strength goal, which marked the 22nd time in 42 games this season that the Ice have scored the game's first goal. Indiana doubled its lead a little over five minutes later when Tarasov deflected Matthew Krug's slap shot from the high slot between the pads of Lyon for Tarasov's team-leading 28th goal this season. The five-on-five marker came 12:43 into the opening period of play.
Omaha sliced Indiana's lead in half 7:33 into the second period when Matt Gaudrea forced a turnover on the right wing before feeding a centering pass into the slot which was promptly punched in by Dominick Sacco for his third goal of the season. Vince Pedrie earned the secondary assist on the even strength tally. The Ice then broke the game open with three goals in a span of just 5:13 in the middle stanza. First, Kuraly banged in his 26th goal of the season and team-leading 10th power play marker 8:34 into the period. Then, John Doherty earned his seventh goal of the year 13:19 into the frame when his wrist shot from the slot inadvertently deflected off an Omaha body at the side of the net before rolling over the goal line. Finally, Lebedev capped the scoring surge 13:47 into the second period with his second goal of the game and sixth of the season. The Lancers battled back to within three goals before the close of the period when Kenney Morrison launched a left point slap shot past Indiana goaltender Jon Gillies for his ninth goal of the season. Casey Bailey and Jimmy Murray assisted on Morrison's first even strength goal this season netted 19:04 into the period.
Omaha closed the margin to two goals 14:25 into the third period on Sacco's second goal of the game and fourth of the season but that's as close as the Lancers would get. Lebedev completed his hat trick with an empty net goal 18:53 into the final frame sealing the Ice's 6-3 victory.
Gillies earned the win in goal for Indiana after 29 saves on 32 Lancers shots on goal. The victory was Gillies' USHL-best 23rd win this season. Meanwhile, Lyon suffered the setback in goal for Omaha after 28 saves on 33 shots. Lyon is now 18-10-3 on the season.
The Lancers are back in action this coming Tuesday evening when the team travels to Sioux City for a 7:05 PM showdown with the Musketeers.
United States Hockey League Stories from February 18, 2012
- Shorthanded Strikes Sink Jacks - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Stampede Fall to Sioux City in Penalty-Filled Game - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Hawks Gain the Hard Way - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Fighting Saints Win 4-3 in Shootout at Waterloo - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Lebedev's Hat Trick Fuels Indiana's 6-3 Win Over Lancers - Omaha Lancers
- Fighting Saints Travel to Take on Waterloo Tonight - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Fighting Saints Organization to Visit with Wild - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Storm Rally Against Sioux Falls, Win 5-2 - Tri-City Storm
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