Omaha Lancers News & Notes - Week 20
Published on February 8, 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 maintain their lead atop the Western Conference this weekend as they prepare to face two teams nipping on their heels in the standings.
Omaha (24-12-3, 51 pts.) earned three of a possible four standings points during a road swing through Fargo and Sioux City last weekend and has now gone 15-4-1 over its last 20 games. The weekend started with a come-from-behind 4-3 overtime victory over the Force as the Lancers improved to 4-1-1 against Fargo this season. Nolan Zajac scored the game-tying goal in the third period and Jimmy Murray netted the winner in overtime as Alex Lyon registered 38 saves for his 18th victory of the season. The win improved Omaha's overall record in overtime this season to a perfect 3-0. Lyon then matched a USHL single-game high with 49 saves on Saturday as the Lancers suffered a 3-2 shootout defeat at the hands of the Musketeers. Ken Babinski and Murray scored for Omaha as the team saw its record in shootouts this season slip to 1-3.
The first-place Lancers return to action Friday when they welcome the second-place Lincoln Stars back to the Omaha Civic Auditorium. Lincoln (22-13-2, 46 pts.) enters the weekend five points back of Omaha and is coming off a 7-0 shutout of the Des Moines Buccaneers last Friday in the team's only game of the week. The Stars were previously scheduled to face off with the Waterloo Black Hawks on Saturday but were unable to make the trip due to inclement weather conditions. No make-up date has yet to be announced. Lyon and Lincoln goaltender Jackson Teichroeb will be unavailable for Friday's game with both players set to serve the second game of their two-game suspension stemming from the last head-to-head meeting between the Lancers and Stars back on January 21st. After the showdown in Omaha on Friday, the Stars return home Saturday to face off against the Sioux Falls Stampede.
Meanwhile, the Lancers conclude their weekend Saturday when the team hosts the third-place Waterloo Black Hawks. Waterloo (20-12-4, 44 pts.) enters Week 20 action seven standings point back of Omaha but has played three fewer games to date than the Lancers. The Black Hawks earned a 4-3 overtime victory over Sioux Falls in the team's only game last week but opened the current week on a sour note with a 3-0 shutout at the Green Bay Gamblers. Still, Waterloo has won seven of its last nine games overall. Before traveling to Omaha on Saturday, the Hawks first face off against the Musketeers in Sioux City on Friday.
Omaha Notes:
Omaha Lancers - 24-12-3, 51 pts. (1st Western Conference)
- Omaha enters the weekend having won nine of its last 12 games and 15 of 20 overall. Five of the team's last seven games have been decided by a single goal with the Lancers boasting a 10-3-3 record in one-goal games this season.
- Friday's showdown kicks off a four-game home stand for Omaha - the longest of the season. The Lancers are 12-6-1 at the Civic Auditorium this season and have won seven of their last nine home games. Omaha has outscored its opposition 63-53 on home ice this season.
- F Jimmy Murray continues to lead all Lancers and is tied for fifth among all USHL skaters in scoring with 45 points (13 goals, 32 assists). Committed to St. Cloud State University, Murray enters the week in the midst of a five-game point streak having notched five goals and four assists during that stretch.
- F Casey Bailey leads all Lancers and is tied for 10th among all USHL skaters with 18 goals this season. Bailey enters the week second among all Lancers with 38 points (18 goals, 20 assists).
- D Nolan Zajac enters the weekend leading all Lancers defensemen and all USHL blueliners in scoring with 26 points (seven goals, 19 assists) this season.
Opponents Notes:
Friday, Feb. 10 vs. Lincoln Stars - 22-13-2, 46 pts. (2nd Western Conference)
- White-Out Night! Fans are encouraged to wear white to the game!
- Friday's meeting is the sixth of eight regular season get-togethers between Omaha and Lincoln. The Lancers are 4-1 against the Stars this season and have won four straight get-togethers in the I-80 rivalry. Casey Bailey leads all scorers in the season series with 11 points (4 goals, 7 assists). Meanwhile, Omaha's Greg Gozzo and Lincoln's Kevin Roy are tied for second with seven points apiece.
- Lincoln is 10-7-1 on the road this season and has outscored its opposition 59-55 in 18 prior road games this year.
- F Kevin Roy continues to lead all USHL skaters in goals (31) and points (58) this season. Committed to Brown University, Roy has registered at least one point in 29 of 37 games this season and enters the weekend having notched 17 points (10 goals, 7 assists) over his last nine games.
- The Stars enter the weekend with the league's third highest rated power play overall (21.6%) and the USHL's second-best road man-advantage (23.8%). Lincoln's penalty kill has struggled though and is currently ranked 13th in the league at 80.5%. The Stars have surrendered seven power play goals to the Lancers in 26 man-down situations (73.1%).
Opponents Notes:
Saturday, Feb. 11 vs. Waterloo Black Hawks - 20-12-4, 44 pts. (T-3rd Western Conference)
- Saturday's meeting is the fourth and final regular season showdown between Omaha and Waterloo. The Lancers are 1-2 against the Black Hawks this season and claimed the most recent get-together a 5-2 victory at the Young Arena in Waterloo back on December 3rd. Black Hawks F Taylor Cammarata leads all scorers in the season series with five points (goal, 4 assists) through the first three meetings.
- Waterloo is 10-8-2 on the road this season and has been outscored 62-61 in 20 prior road tilts.
- F Taylor Cammarata leads all Black Hawks and is tied for ninth among all USHL skaters in scoring with 39 points (18 goals, 21 assists) this season. The 16-year-old forward from Plymouth, Minnesota has recorded 10 multi-point games this year.
- Waterloo's power play enters the weekend ranked 13th overall at 13.7% and is just 1-for-16 on the man-advantage in three prior meetings with the Lancers. Meanwhile, the Black Hawks penalty kill currently ranks 11th overall at 81.6% and has held the Lancers power play off the board in six man-advantage opportunities through the first three meetings.
United States Hockey League Stories from February 8, 2012
- Fighting Saints Blank Des Moines 2-0 - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Top Prospect to Play in Green Bay Next Season - Green Bay Gamblers
- Omaha Lancers News & Notes - Week 20 - Omaha Lancers
- Fighting Saints to Face off Against Des Moines Tonight - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Phantoms Notebook: Week 19 - Youngstown Phantoms
- Lumberjacks Log: Busy Stretch Starts with Robin Bouchard Night - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- USHL Update - Week 19 - USHL
- No Joke, Hawks-Stars Play April 1st - Waterloo Black Hawks
- U.S. National Under-17 and Under-18 Teams Look to Defend Titles in Upcoming International Play - U.S. National Team
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