USHL Omaha Lancers

Special Teams Key in Lancers' 5-3 Win over Stampede

January 16, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release


Omaha Lancers Defend their Goal vs. the Sioux Falls Stampede
Omaha Lancers Defend their Goal vs. the Sioux Falls Stampede
(Omaha Lancers)

Ralston, NE - Johan Steen recorded a two-point night and Nick Jenny scored his first-career United States Hockey League goal as the Omaha Lancers defeated the Sioux Falls Stampede, 5-3, in front of 3,172 at Ralston Arena on Saturday night.

Just 1:46 into the game, Austin Lemieux took a tripping call in the offensive zone and Sioux Falls had an early power play opportunity. Johan Steen took the puck defensively for the Omaha Lancers and lifted it off the right wing glass out to the neutral zone. As the puck went off the glass, Brian Williams went around the defense at the blue line and alone on a breakaway. Stampede goaltender Ales Stezka stopped Williams' chance but Nick Rivera came flying in and jammed the loose puck into the net for the 1-0 lead and his 12th goal of the year. Assists on the first tally of the night were credited to both Williams and Steen on the Lancers' third short-handed goal of the year.

Early in the second period a loose puck that Omaha couldn't clear out of the crease helped the Stampede tie the game. After a save by goaltender Zack Skog, the puck was free as players tried to locate it in traffic. Csanad Erdely chipped away and got the final touch as the puck rolled over the goal line into the net just 1:34 into the middle frame. The goal was just Erdely's second of the season with assists from Daniel Warpecha and Chaz Switzer.

On the man advantage Brannon McManus put the Lancers back out to a one-goal lead. After taking a pass from Austin Alger, the University of Minnesota commit let a wrist shot go that squeezed through the legs of Ales Stezka for a 2-1 lead at 9:15 of the second period. With the goal, McManus recorded his tenth of the year and had assists from Alger on the pass to the high slot, along with Jacob Bryson.

For the second-straight night, another Omaha Lancer tallied their first USHL goal. Defenseman Nick Jenny settled a rolling puck inside the right wing hash marks and let a low shot go that slipped through Ales Stezka and barely trickled over the goal line for a two-goal lead at 12:47 of period two. It was Jenny's first of his United States Hockey League career. Austin Lemieux and Mitch Perrault were given the assists. For Lemieux, the assist was his fourth of the year and fifth point overall while Perrault's assist was his eighth and 18th point.

Shortly after the Stampede went down by a pair of goals, newcomer Lean Bergmann scored his second goal in just his sixth game of the year. Bergmann brought the puck down the right side of the offensive zone and cut across the high slot letting a low wrist shot fly that beat Zack Skog by his leg pad at 13:29 of the second period. Bergmann's goal had assists from Jack Doremus and Joe Rutkowski to decrease the Lancers' lead down to 3-2.

In the third period Nathan Krusko with another deflection in front of an opposing net put the Lancers ahead 4-2. Johan Steen sent a shot on net from the right point and Krusko deflected the puck just above the crease by the glove of Ales Stezka for the two-goal advantage. It was Krusko's tenth of the year with assists from Johan Steen and William Fallstrom just 2:12 into the third frame.

Late in the game, Stampede captain Parker Tuomie pulled his team back within a goal. Tuomie quickly skated through the neutral zone and when he moved just inside the blue line let a shot go that went in and out of Zack Skog's glove for his 19th of the season, unassisted, with 4:05 to go in the game. The lead for Omaha was now 4-3 as the Stampede pulled the goaltender for the extra attacker.

Josh French capped off the night with an empty-net goal for his tenth of the season with just over 0:12 left in the game. Goaltender Zackarias Skog denied 27 of 30 for his seventh win of the season.

The Lancers return home next Saturday to face the division rival Lincoln Stars at 7:05 p.m.! It's TeamMates Night presented by the Nebraska Lottery. Can't make it? Fans can listen live to the game beginning at 6:50 p.m. with the Valpak Pregame Show on "The Mighty" 1290 KOIL, Mighty 1290 KOIL Mobile APP, www.mighty1290koil.com, and www.FASTHockey.com.

Check out the Omaha Lancers Statistics




Images from this story

Omaha Lancers Defend their Goal vs. the Sioux Falls Stampede
Omaha Lancers Defend their Goal vs. the Sioux Falls Stampede
   



United States Hockey League Stories from January 16, 2016


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.

OurSports Central