Murray Nets OT Game-Winner as Lancers Drop Fargo 4-3
Published on February 3, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
Fargo, ND - Jimmy Murray scored two goals, including the game-winner in overtime, and added an assist as the Omaha Lancers rattled off a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over the Fargo Force Friday evening in front of 3,776 fans at the Scheels Arena. With the win, Omaha improved to 24-12-2 on the year and became the first Western Conference team this season, and just the third in the USHL, to reach the 50 standings point plateau. The victory also stretched the Lancers road winning streak to a season-best five straight games.
Omaha grabbed the game's opening goal 12:59 into the first period when Murray won a battle for a loose puck atop the Fargo goal crease before driving in his 11th goal of the season. Casey Bailey earned the only assist on the even strength marker, which marked the 19th time in 38 games this season the Lancers have scored the game's first goal. Fargo evened the game in the final minute of the period when, while on the power play, Jordan Nelson came bursting in on the left wing before snapping home his third goal of the season. Willie Corrin and Force goaltender Zane Gothberg assisted on the man-advantage marker scored 19:16 into the opening period of play.
The Lancers regained the lead 2:23 into the second period with a power play goal of their own when Murray lifted a perfect centering pass to the top of the goal crease which was promptly punched home by Greg Gozzo for his 17th goal of the season. Scott Dornbrock earned the secondary assist on the man-advantage marker as Omaha tallied its 15th power play goal over the last 10 games. The Lancers have now netted at least one man-advantage marker in nine of the team's last 10 games. Fargo evened the game just over three minutes later though with its second power play goal of the game when Taylor Richart launched a left point one-timer past Omaha goaltender Alex Lyon. Willie Corrin and Bryn Chyzyk assisted on Richart's fifth goal of the season. The Force then grabbed their first and only lead of the night 9:17 into the period when, during an Omaha power play, Nelson was able to break free shorthanded before wrapping in his second goal of the game and fourth of the season. The unassisted shorthanded marker was the sixth shorthanded goal scored by Fargo this season and the sixth shorthanded goal surrendered by the Lancers this year.
Omaha remained resilient though and evened the game just prior to the midway point of the third period when Anthony Hamburg found Nolan Zajac streaking down the slot who made no mistake in one-timing in his seventh goal of the season. The five-on-five marker came 9:23 into the final period of regulation and extended Zajac's point streak to a season-high eight games.
The Lancers finished the comeback 2:16 into overtime on the team's only shot of the overtime period when Murray snapped a wrist shot from the slot inside the right post. Bailey and Kenney Morrison assisted on Murray's second goal of the season and 12th of the season. Following Murray's strike, the Lancers improved to 3-0 this season in games decided in overtime.
Lyon earned the victory in goal for Omaha after 38 saves on 41 Force shots on goal. The Lancers netminder has now won seven straight decisions and improved his overall record on the year to 18-8-2. Meanwhile, Gothberg suffered the loss after 23 saves on 27 Lancers shots.
The Lancers are back in action tomorrow evening head to Sioux City for a 7:05 PM showdown with the Musketeers.
United States Hockey League Stories from February 3, 2012
- Musketeers End Storm's 3-Game Winning Streak - Tri-City Storm
- Phantoms Fend off Fighting Saints 5-3 - Youngstown Phantoms
- Papa Comes up Big - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Stampede Gain a Point in OT Loss to Waterloo - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Murray Nets OT Game-Winner as Lancers Drop Fargo 4-3 - Omaha Lancers
- Davis Registers Hat Trick, But Saints Fall 5-3 - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Roughriders Stifle Lumberjacks - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Former Stampede Forward Vitale Signs Two Year Extension with Penguins - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Fighting Saints Face Conference Foe Phantoms Tonight - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Edson Commits to "Aim High" - Waterloo Black Hawks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
