U-18's Outlast Lancers in Shootout, 5-4
March 29, 2014 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
ANN ARBOR, MI - In their lone trip to the Ann Arbor Ice Cube in Ann Arbor, Michigan this season, the Omaha Lancers scrapped their way into a shootout for the second straight night, but fell on Saturday to USA Hockey's U-18 team by a final score of 5-4. With the shootout loss, the Lancers improved to 37-14-7 overall this season and with 81 points, remain alone in second place in the USHL's Western Conference standings heading into the final weekend of the regular season.
After starting the opening period with a hefty dose of possession and opportunity, the Lancers surrendered the game's first goal at 9:20 when onetime Lancer Shane Gersich made it 1-0 Team USA at even strength on a second-effort finish. After a Jack Eichel marker pushed the USA lead to 2-0 at 17:55, future Providence College Friar Ryan Tait gave Omaha a huge jolt in the period's final minute, when the Santa Clarita, California native zipped down the right side of his offensive zone and buried a power-play wrister past Team USA goaltender Edwin Minney to make it 2-1 at 19:35 with Luc Snuggerud gathering the play's lone assist, Snuggerud's first point as a Lancer.
Omaha entered the second frame with a determined effort and significant momentum on their side as a net-mouth scramble gave way to a game-tying goal for Jake Randolph at 9:34, the end-result of a well-placed Steven Johnson point shot. Then, for the second time in the game, an Omaha marker came in the final minute of a period, as Brian Williams finished off a Lancers odd-man rush at 19:34 with Snuggerud and Tait notching assists on the play, the second points of the game for both Omaha skaters, to deliver the Lancers their first lead of the evening at 3-2 heading into the third.
The Lancers held fast to the lead for the first half of the final period, but back-to-back Team USA goals, at 11:16 for Eichel and 12:58 for Dylan Larkin respectively, pushed the advantage back to the U-18's at 4-3 with just minutes remaining in regulation. After a strong charge late in the frame, the Lancers finally clawed back to even footing at 14:52 when Tucker Poolman's wheeling shot from the left circle bounded off Minney's leg pads and straight to Randolph who collected a game-tying rebound marker, the Duluth, Minnesota native's second of the game and 26th of the season.
After a four-on-four overtime period failed to produce a winner, the Lancers, for the second consecutive night, were pushed to a shootout. After Luc Snuggerud converted in the second round for Omaha to tie the shootout at one, a dazzling Hayden Hawkey stop in round three urged the shootout to multiple extra rounds. A fifth round Luca Frigo score gave the Lancers a chance, but despite a heroic effort in net from Hawkey, Larkin converted in the bottom of the seventh round to deliver Team USA a 5-4 victory.
Next up for the Lancers, it's a Friday road tilt at Scheels Arena in Fargo, North Dakota vs. the Fargo Force at 7:05 pm in the penultimate game of the regular season. Full coverage of Friday's clash begins with the "Valpak Pregame Show" at 6:50 pm on the Lancers' flagship station, "The Mighty" 1290 KOIL with Lancers broadcaster Tony Brown providing the play-by-play.
In 2013-14, the five-time Anderson Cup and seven-time Clark Cup Champion Omaha Lancers drop the puck on their 28th season in the USHL. Season ticket packages for the Lancers' second campaign at the state-of-the-art Ralston Arena are available now starting at just $12.50 per game! To reserve your seats, contact the Lancers' ticket office today at 402-344-7825, extension 1, or log on to www.lancers.com for more information. Be sure to follow the Lancers on Twitter @OmahaLancers and don't forget to 'Like' the official "Omaha Lancers" fan page on Facebook.
United States Hockey League Stories from March 29, 2014
- Malone, Saints Rally to Beat Indiana 3-2 Saturday - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Hawks Make It Interesting, Exciting - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Stampede Fall in Overtime at Waterloo - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Late Power Play Seals Game for Riders in Front of Record Covelli Crowd - Youngstown Phantoms
- Ice fall to Saints - Indiana Ice
- Force Blank Storm 4-0 - Tri-City Storm
- Lumberjacks Mount Furious Rally Late to Stun Lincoln in a Shootout - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- U-18's Outlast Lancers in Shootout, 5-4 - Omaha Lancers
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.
