Omaha Lancers News & Notes - Week 22
Published on February 19, 2013 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
Ralston, Neb. - The Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) continue their five-game home stand this weekend with showdowns at Ralston Arena against the Sioux City Musketeers on Friday followed by the Sioux Falls Stampede on Saturday.
Omaha (28-19, 56 pts.) won just one out of three games in a busy week last week as the team remains locked in a tie for third place in the Western Conference standings alongside the Waterloo Black Hawks. The Lancers opened the week last Wednesday with the team's sixth consecutive victory thanks to a 3-2 triumph over Sioux Falls. Luca Frigo scored the game-winning goal in the third period and Alex Lyon registered 33 saves as Omaha won its 11th game in the last 12 outings. The winning streak came to an end though on Friday as the Lancers completed their home-and-home series with the Stampede in a 3-2 loss at Sioux Falls. C.J. Franklin scored twice for the Stampede as the home team has now won each of the first five head-to-head meetings between Omaha and Sioux Falls. The busy weekend then came to a close back at Ralston Arena on Saturday as the Lancers suffered their fifth straight setback to Tri-City in a 2-1 loss to the Storm. Despite 24 saves from Cole Bruns and a power play goal from Gage Hough, Omaha moved to 1-5 against Tri-City this season with just the team's second loss at home in the last eight home contests.
The Lancers return to action this Friday as the team hosts the Sioux City Musketeers at Ralston Arena. Sioux City (11-23-11, 33 pts.) won two out of three games last week suffering a 5-2 setback to the USHL-leading Dubuque Fighting Saints on Tuesday before rebounding with a 5-3 win over the Storm on Friday followed by a 3-2 victory over the Des Moines Buccaneers on Saturday. The Musketeers enter the week having won four out their last six games and five of eight overall. After facing off against Omaha on Friday, Sioux City returns home Saturday to take on the Fargo Force.
Meanwhile, the Lancers continue their five-game home stand on Saturday as the team welcomes the Sioux Falls Stampede back to town. Like Sioux City, Sioux Falls (31-12-2, 64 pts.) won two out of three games last week splitting its home-and-home series with Omaha before earning a convincing 6-1 victory over the Lincoln Stars on Saturday. The Stampede enter the week having won six out of their last 10 games and 15 of 20 overall. Before returning to Ralston Arena, Sioux Falls begins its weekend Friday in Fargo. After facing the Lancers on Saturday, the Stampede close out a busy three-game weekend Sunday at home against the Green Bay Gamblers.
Omaha Notes:
Omaha Lancers - 28-19-0, 56 pts. (T-3rd Western Conference)
- Omaha enters the week tied for third place in the Western Conference standings with the Waterloo Black Hawks. Both Omaha and Waterloo enter the week five points back of second-place Fargo and eight standings points behind conference-leading Sioux Falls. Meanwhile, the Lancers and Black Hawks lead fifth-place Lincoln by just one point for the fourth and final playoff spot in the West. Waterloo has played one fewer game than the Lancers to date while the Stars have played two fewer.
- The Lancers enter the week having won 11 of their last 14 games overall. That stretch includes six victories in the team's last eight home games where Omaha is 14-8 overall this season. The Lancers have outscored their opposition 43-32 over the last 14 games and have surrendered just four power play goals against during that stretch.
- Omaha has seen five of its last six games decided by just a single goal. The Lancers are 3-2 in those one-goal games and 16-8 in one-goal contests overall this season. Meanwhile, 13 of Omaha's last 16 games overall have been decided by two or fewer goals.
- F Robbie Baillargeon continues to lead all Lancers in scoring this season with 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists). Committed to Boston University, Baillargeon leads all Lancers with 16 goals and has tallied 21 points in 21 games since coming to Omaha in a trade with the Indiana Ice.
- G Alex Lyon has started 11 of the team's last 13 games and has produced an 9-2 record during that stretch. Committed to Yale University, Lyon is second among all USHL goaltenders with 21 wins this season and also boasts the league's second-best save percentage (.921) and fourth-best goals-against average (2.52).
- Omaha's power play currently ranks fourth overall at 19.5%. The Lancers are 21-6 when scoring a power play goal this season. Meanwhile, Omaha's penalty kill remains first among all USHL teams at 86.4% and the Lancers have surrendered zero power play goals against in 32 of 47 games this season.
Opponents Notes:
Friday, February 22 vs. Sioux City - 11-23-11, 33 pts. (8th Western Conference)
- Friday's contest marks the sixth of nine total meetings during the 2012-13 regular season between the Lancers and Sioux City Musketeers. Omaha is 4-1 against Sioux City this season with all five games having been decided by just a single goal. The Lancers claimed the most recent get-together with a 5-4 victory over the Musketeers in Sioux City on New Year's Eve.
- The Musketeers enter the week eighth and last in the Western Conference with 33 standings points. Sioux City is currently 10 points behind a sixth-place tie between Tri-City and Des Moines and remains 23 points behind Omaha and Waterloo for the fourth and final playoff spot in the West.
- Sioux City's Jake Guentzel leads all scorers in the season series with six points (2 goals, 4 assists) through the first five meetings. Meanwhile, Omaha's Matias Cleland is second with five points (2 goals, 3 assists).
- Guentzel leads all Musketeers and is tied for 14th among all USHL skaters in scoring with 43 points (15 goals, 28 assists). The two-time defending CCM Forward of the Week enters the week in the midst of a six-game scoring streak having tallied 13 points (3 goals, 10 assists) during that time.
- Sioux City is just 2-14-7 on the road this season and has been outscored 89-53 in 23 prior road contests. The Musketeers' only road wins this season came with a 4-1 victory in Fargo back on December 8th followed by a 3-2 win in Tri-City on January 26th. Sioux City is 0-0-2 in two prior showdowns at Ralston Arena.
- Sioux City's power play enters the week ranked fifth overall at 18.7% and is 3-for-22 (13.6%) in five prior meetings with Omaha. Meanwhile, the Musketeers' penalty kill ranks 13th overall at 80.0% and is 17-for-21 (80.9%) against the Lancers.
Saturday, February 23 vs. Sioux Falls - 31-12-2, 64 pts. (1st Western Conference)
- Saturday's contest marks the sixth of eight total meetings during the 2012-13 regular season between the Lancers and Sioux Falls Stampede. Omaha is 3-2 against Sioux Falls this season and 3-0 in games played at Ralston Arena. Through the first five meetings, the Lancers have outscored the Stampede 18-14 overall and 13-6 in three showdowns at Ralston Arena.
- The Stampede enter the week in sole possession of first place in the Western Conference. Sioux Falls holds a three-point lead over second-place Fargo and leads third-place Omaha and Waterloo by eight standings points. Meanwhile, the Stampede trail the Dubuque Fighting Saints by seven points for the top position in the overall USHL standings.
- Sioux Falls' C.J. Franklin and Dennis Kravchenko lead all scorers in the season series with six points each through the first five meetings. Meanwhile, Omaha's Connor Chatham, Jake Randolph and Tucker Poolman along with the Stampede's Kyle Schempp are second with five points apiece.
- Franklin leads all Sioux Falls skaters in scoring this season with 42 points (22 goals, 20 assists) while Kravchenko is second with 41 points (15 goals, 26 assists).
- The Stampede are 12-7-2 on the road this season and have outscored their opposition 67-61 in 21 prior road contests.
- Sioux Falls' power play enters the week ranked seventh overall at 18.1% and is 2-for-16 (12.5%) in five prior meetings with Omaha. Meanwhile, the Stampede's penalty kill is fifth overall at 83.4% and is 20-for-24 (83.3%) against the Lancers.
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