Vesel Pots Pair In Final Minute, Lancers Shock Storm 5-3
November 29, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
KEARNEY, NE - Thanks to a pair of goals in the final minute of regulation from future Nebraska-Omaha Maverick Tyler Vesel, the Omaha Lancers defeated the Tri-City Storm Friday at Viaero Event center in Kearney, Nebraska by a final score of 5-3. With the win, the Lancers improved to 16-3-2 overall this season and with 34 points, remain alone atop the Western Conference and overall USHL standings.
The Storm seized control of the game at 6:36 of the opening period, taking a 1-0 lead on a point-blank one-timer from Nick Hutchison, but the Lancers bit right back at 13:50 when future Minnesota Golden Gopher Steven Johnson fired home his first career USHL goal, a center-point, low-glove, power-play wrister, assisted by Tucker Poolman, to tie the game at one. Just over one minute later, the Lancers claimed their first advantage of the game when Tri-City goaltender Hayden Lavigne kicked a juicy rebound to the right doorstep in the Storm zone following a Tyler Hynes snapper and rookie Omaha forward Jake Henderson didn't miss a wide open net, burying his second goal of the season to make it 2-1 Lancers.
Former University of Minnesota forward Christian Horn lasered home a power-play goal at 4:30 of the second to tie the game at two, but after a middle frame rife with Omaha scoring chances, the Lancers finally broke through at 17:54 when rookie centerman Brian Williams poked his second goal of the season, his first tally since the Lancers' season-opening 5-0 win over the Fargo Force at Ralston Arena on September 27th, past Lavigne thanks to perseverant feeds from Louie Rowe and Nash Worden to establish Omaha's second lead of the hockey game at 3-2.
After a tight-checking third period nearly slid by scoreless, the Storm came up with a late game-tying goal at 15:08 from Drew Mayer. Just moments after Mayer's tally, the Ferris State recruit was awarded a penalty shot at 16:49, but despite a slick move from his opposition, Lancers goaltender Hayden Hawkey stuck with it to the right post and denied what would have been a devastating blow to Omaha's hopes late in the game.
With both teams battening down the hatches and seemingly bound for overtime in the final minute of regulation, a Matt Nelson point shot with just 30 seconds left in the game lodged under Lavigne, but slowly trickled free and was nudged home by leading USHL goal scorer Vesel to deliver Omaha a 4-3 lead on a marker that proved to be Vesel's league-leading fourth game-winning tally of the season. Seconds later, an empty-net goal for Vesel sealed the win for Omaha and pushed the Lancers' head-to-head record vs. Tri-City to 3-0-0 so far this season.
Next up for the Lancers, the road weekend continues Saturday at Viaero Event Center in Kearney, Nebraska for another tilt vs. the Tri-City Storm at 7:05 pm. Full coverage of Saturday's game 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.
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