Omaha Lancers News & Notes - Week 16
Published on January 12, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
Omaha, Neb. - The Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) look to extend their current three-game winning streak during the team's upcoming weekend road swing through Sioux Falls and Lincoln.
The Lancers opened the calendar year of 2012 on a high note last week claiming three wins in a span of four days to move into a tie atop the Western Conference. Omaha (18-10-2, 38 pts.) began the new year with a 3-2 victory at the Sioux Falls Stampede last Wednesday and continued their recent surge with home wins over the Des Moines Buccaneers and Lincoln Stars last Friday and Saturday respectively. The Lancers have now won nine of their last 11 games overall and are currently in the midst of a season-high five-game home winning streak.
After a successful home stand last weekend, Omaha hits the road this weekend for a pair of games beginning with Friday evening's showdown at the Sioux Falls Stampede. Sioux Falls (11-15-1, 23 pts.) dropped two of three games last week and has now fallen in eight of its last 11 games overall. After dropping a pair of one-goal games to Omaha and the Lincoln Stars last Wednesday and Friday, the Stampede closed out last week's action on a high note with a 4-3 shootout victory over Des Moines. That contest marked the first time in 15 games (November 23 - January 7) that Sioux Falls had managed to score four goals in a single game. After hosting the Lancers on Friday, the Stampede welcome the Dubuque Fighting Saints to the Sioux Falls Arena on Saturday.
The Lancers then wrap up their weekend road swing Saturday when the top two teams in the West face off as Omaha travels to Lincoln to battle the Stars. Lincoln (18-10-2, 38 pts.) split a pair of games last weekend defeating Sioux Falls 4-3 on Friday before falling in Omaha 5-2 on Saturday. The Stars kick off a four-game home stand Friday when they welcome the Sioux City Musketeers to the IceBox before hosting the Lancers on Saturday.
Omaha Notes:
Omaha Lancers - 18-10-2, 38 pts. (T-1st Western Conference)
- Omaha has won nine of its last 11 games and has outscored the opposition 45-18 in those nine victories. The Lancers are 9-2 under Interim Head Coach Mike Aikens and Interim Associate Coach Michael Zucker.
- F Jimmy Murray continues to lead all Lancers and is sixth among all USHL skaters in scoring with 32 points (seven goals, 25 assists). Committed to St. Cloud State University, Murray leads all USHLers with 25 assists and enters the week having tallied 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) over his last 11 games. The veteran from Darien, Illinois leads all Lancers with nine multi-point games this season.
- F Casey Bailey leads all Lancers and is tied for 10th among all USHL skaters with 14 goals this season. Bailey enters the week second among all Lancers with 26 points (14 goals, 12 assists).
- D Kevin Schulze leads all Omaha blueliners and is tied for sixth among all USHL defensemen in scoring with 16 points this season. Committed to the University of Wisconsin, Schulze is currently leading all USHL defensemen with 16 assists this season. The former Muskegon Lumberjack has tallied 10 points (10 assists) in 22 games since coming to Omaha in early November.
- Omaha's power play has been red hot of late having produced 12 man-advantage markers over the last eight games. During that stretch, the Lancers power play is clicking at 26.7% (12-for-45) and enters the week ranked seventh among all 16 USHL man advantages at 16.9% overall.
Opponents Notes:
Friday, Jan. 13 @ Sioux Falls Stampede - 11-15-1, 23 pts. (7th Western Conference)
- Friday's meeting is the fourth head-to-head meeting this season between Omaha and Sioux Falls. The Lancers are 3-0 against the Stampede this season after a 3-2 shootout victory on October 28th followed by a 5-2 win on December 17th and most recently, a 3-2 win in Sioux Falls on January 4th. Omaha's Max Vallis, Michael Ferrantino and Nolan Zajac lead all scorers in the season series with three points each through the first three meetings.
- The Stampede are 7-7 at home this season but have been outscored 42-35 in 14 prior home games.
- F Kyle Rankin and F Justin Selman lead all Sioux Falls skaters in scoring with 14 points each. Rankin has notched seven goals and seven assists this season while Selman has recorded three goals and 11 assists this year.
- The Stampede's power play enters the week 16th and last in the league at 11.8% (12-for-102) overall but is 2-for-7 in three prior meetings with the Lancers. Meanwhile, the Sioux Falls penalty kills ranks 15th at 77.1% and has surrendered three power plays goals to Omaha in 12 man-down scenarios so far.
Opponents Notes:
Saturday, Jan. 14 @ Lincoln Stars - 18-10-2, 38 pts. (T-1st Western Conference)
- Saturday's meeting is the fourth of eight regular season meetings between Omaha and Lincoln. The Stars claimed the first head-to-head meeting with a 2-1 victory at the IceBox on November 12th but the Lancers have responded in the last two meetings with a 7-2 victory in Lincoln on December 2nd followed by a 5-2 win at the Civic Auditorium last Saturday. Omaha's Casey Bailey leads all scorers in the season series with seven points (two goals, five assists) through the first three meetings.
- The Stars are 8-4-1 at home this season and have outscored the opposition 42-38 in 13 prior home games. Entering the week, Lincoln will play six of its next seven games overall at home at the IceBox.
- F Kevin Roy leads all Lincoln skaters and enters the week atop the USHL scoring race with 45 points (24 goals, 21 assists) this season. Roy leads all USHL skaters with 24 goals this season and 13 multi-point games.
- Lincoln's power play enters the week ranked third among all USHL clubs at 21.7% (25-for-115) but is just 1-for-10 in three meetings with the Lancers. Meanwhile the Stars' penalty ranks 14th overall at 79.7% and has surrendered a USHL-high 30 power play goals-against. Omaha's power play is 4-for-14 in the season series vs. the Stars.
United States Hockey League Stories from January 12, 2012
- Fighting Saints Add Slovakian Forward Bubela - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Phantoms Look to Add to League-Best Home Record with Pair Against Team USA - Youngstown Phantoms
- Omaha Lancers News & Notes - Week 16 - Omaha Lancers
- Stampede Acquire Scoring Forward from Muskegon - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Ice's Hilbrich Commits to Cornell - Indiana Ice
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