Omaha Comeback Falls Just Short in 4-3 Game 3 Defeat
April 21, 2010 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
Chase Grant scored three goals and Omaha's comeback fell just short as the Fargo Force hung on to beat the Lancers 4-3 Wednesday evening at the Urban Plains Center in Game 3 of the West Division Finals. Fargo now leads the best-of-five series two games to one and will have its first opportunity to close out the series tomorrow night back on home ice.
Fargo grabbed the game's opening goal and the only marker of period one when a series of failed clears in the defensive zone by the Lancers led to an opportunity in the high slot for Fargo's Johnnie Searfoss who made no mistake in wristing home his first goal of the playoffs. J.P. Burkemper and Nate Schmidt garnered the two assists on the game's opening tally, which was netted with Fargo's first shot of the game 3:45 into the opening frame. Neither side was able to generate many quality scoring opportunities in the first period as the two sides combined for just 11 shots on goal in the opening twenty minutes of play.
Both sides then traded power play goals in the middle period as Chase Grant tapped in a cross-crease pass for his fourth goal of the playoffs 3:33 into the frame before Seth Ambroz redirected Erik Haula's wrist shot from the right wing just 58 seconds later. Greg Wolfe earned the secondary assist on Ambroz's fourth goal of the postseason and third power play marker of the playoffs.
The Force grabbed a two-goal lead just past the midway point of period three when Schmidt found Grant on the back door for his second goal of the game and fifth of the playoffs. Eamonn McDermott grabbed the secondary assist on Fargo's second power play goal of the game. The Lancers responded quickly again though as Wolfe took a giveaway in Fargo's defensive end and turned it into his third goal of the playoffs 14:43 into the final frame. Trailing by a goal late in regulation, Omaha pulled goaltender Jeff Teglia in favor of the extra attacker but left an empty in the defensive end, which was filled with Grant's third goal of the game 18:44 into the third period. McDermott and Schmidt assisted on what proved to be the eventual game-winning goal as just 43 seconds later Haula won a goal line scramble in tapping in his first goal of the postseason past Fargo's Ryan Massa. Matt White and Dennis Brown assisted on the extra attacker goal. Omaha had one final chance to tie the game in regulation when Wolfe was awarded a penalty shot with just four seconds left after a Fargo skater covered the puck with his glove in the crease but on the ensuing chance Wolfe fired the shot just high and wide sealing Fargo's victory.
Mass earned the victory in net for the Force after 23 saves on 26 Lancers shots while Omaha's Teglia fell to 4-2 in the playoffs after 21 saves on 24 Force shots on goal.
The Lancers are back in action tomorrow evening back at the Urban Plains Center in Fargo for must-win Game 4 of the West Division Finals.
United States Hockey League Stories from April 21, 2010
- Omaha Comeback Falls Just Short in 4-3 Game 3 Defeat - Omaha Lancers
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- USHL Honors Montpetit, Brown - Waterloo Black Hawks
- U.S. Men's National U18 Team Downs Finland, 5-0, in World Championship Semifinals - U.S. National Team
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