Third Period Surge Pushes Des Moines 4-2 Past Lancers
March 24, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
Ralston, Neb. - Michael Marnell scored two goals and the Des Moines Buccaneers netted three unanswered tallies in the third period Sunday evening en route to a 4-2 victory over the Omaha Lancers in front of 3,016 fans at Ralston Arena. Following the setback, Omaha dropped to 32-25-1 overall this season as the team remains one point back of the Waterloo Black Hawks for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Lancers have now dropped nine of their last 13 games producing a 4-8-1 record during that stretch.
After a predominantly scoreless first period, Des Moines finally broke the stalemate with just over four minutes left in the opening frame when James Roll unleashed a slap shot from the left point that solved Lancers goaltender Cole Bruns high to the glove side. Willem Nong-Lambert and Ali Thomas assisted on Roll's fourth goal of the season which came 15:42 into the first period. The even strength strike marked the 28th time in 58 games this season that Omaha has surrendered the game's first goal. The Lancers are now 9-18-1 when allowing the game's first goal.
Omaha evened the game a little better than eight minutes into the second period when Trent Samuels-Thomas used a power move into the slot before backhanding in his fifth goal of the season. Matias Cleland garnered the only assist on the five-on-five conversion notched 8:03 into the middle frame. The Lancers then grabbed their first and only lead of the night a little over six minutes later when, in the midst of a five-on-three power play, Cleland pinched down into the slot before sending in his ninth goal of the season and fourth man-advantage marker of the year. Tyler Moy and Tucker Poolman assisted on the power play conversion netted 14:41 into the second period.
The Buccaneers remained resilient though and evened the game just 2:31 into the third frame when Seth Adams chipped in his seventh goal of the year. Roll grabbed the only assist on the equalizing marker. Des Moines then regained the lead for good with just under four minutes left in regulation when Marnell netted his first of two goals in the game and 13th conversion of the year. Axel Wemmneborn secured the only assist on Marnell's third game-winning goal of the year. The Buccaneers then put the game away in the final minute as, with Bruns back to the bench in favor of the extra attacker, Marnell found the empty Omaha net for his 14th goal of the season. Jack Jenkins and Ryan Galt assisted as Des Moines earned just its second victory of the season when trailing after two periods.
Buccaneers goaltender Nick Ellis earned the victory in goal after 28 saves on 30 shots. With the win, Ellis improved to 12-11-3 overall this season. Meanwhile, Bruns suffered the loss after 19 saves on 22 shots. The native of Prairie Grove, Illinois is now 7-7 this year.
The Lancers are back in action next Friday evening when the team travels to Sioux Falls for a 7:05 PM showdown with the Stampede.
United States Hockey League Stories from March 24, 2013
- Third Period Surge Pushes Des Moines 4-2 Past Lancers - Omaha Lancers
- Phantoms Clinch Playoff Spot Despite 4-2 Loss to USA - Youngstown Phantoms
- Ice Bend Chicago 6-3 - Indiana Ice
- Quenneville Scores Pair in Third, Dubuque Beats USA 4-3 Sunday - Dubuque Fighting Saints
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