West Division Rivals Await Lancers
Published on February 24, 2010 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Omaha Lancers News Release
A week after embarking on their longest road trip of the season, the Omaha Lancers prepare for a weekend road series against a pair of considerably closer opponents. Omaha (32-12-3, 67 Pts.) is currently in the midst of an 8-game stretch of games away from the Omaha Civic Auditorium, which began with 4-1 and 3-1 victories over the Youngstown Phantoms this past weekend. The Lancers have now won three straight games overall - all at the hands of the Phantoms. With 13 games still remaining, Omaha has already matched its win total (32) from a season ago and enters the upcoming weekend of USHL action with a four-point edge in the West Division standings over the Fargo Force. The Lancers currently sit just four points back of the Green Bay Gamblers for the top spot in the overall USHL standings.
Omaha's weekend begins with a trip to the state capital of Nebraska and its final regular season get-together with the Lincoln Stars. The Lancers are already 4-0 against Lincoln (13-25-8, 34 Pts.) this season and have an opportunity Friday to sweep their season series with the Stars for the first time in franchise history. Lincoln has dropped 10 of its last 12 games overall dating back to a 7-0 defeat against Omaha in the last meeting between these two teams back on January 22nd. In that contest, Lancers' forward Erik Haula registered one of his two hat tricks this season.
Following Friday's action, the Lancers head north to Sioux City for a date with the Musketeers on Saturday. Much like its season series with Lincoln, Omaha is undefeated against Sioux City (18-21-5, 41 Pts.) this season posting a 5-0 record against the Musketeers. The final regular season get-together between Omaha and Sioux City comes on March 27th at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. The Musketeers are currently on the outside looking in to the West Division playoff picture occupying the fifth overall spot in the West Division heading into this weekend. Sioux City is a full 11 standings points back of Tri-City for the fourth and final playoff spot in the West with just 16 games remaining. Omaha has a chance to become the first team from the West Division to punch its ticket to the postseason with a win on Friday in Lincoln and a regulation victory Saturday in Sioux City.
Friday, February 26th @ Lincoln Stars, 7:05 PM CST, Lincoln IceBox
Saturday, February 27th @ Sioux City Musketeers, 7:05 PM CST, Tyson Events Center
**Radio coverage for both games can be found on 1290 AM KKAR or www.1290kkar.com beginning with the Valpak pre-game show at 6:50 PM CST.**
SPAGHETTI FEED BENEFIT DINNER FOR MOTTO & DOROTHY McLEAN
The Omaha Lancers, in conjunction with the Omaha Lancer Booster Club, will be hosting a Spaghetti Feed Benefit Dinner for Motto & Dorothy McLean at the Georgetowne Club on Tuesday, March 2nd from 6-8 PM. The Georgetown Club is located at 2440 S. 141st Circle (just NW of 141st & Center). The cost for this event is just $12 for adults and $6 for children (12 and under) and ALL proceeds will go directly to Motto & Dorothy McLean, who are still recovering from a devastating house fire suffered on January 16, 2010. The special guests for the evening will be the Omaha Lancers hockey team. For more information contact Alli Judy with the Lancers at 344-7825, ext. 1 or by e-mail at ajudy@lancers.com.
NEWS & NOTES FOR THE WEEKEND
* After their weekend sweep in Youngstown over the Phantoms, the Omaha Lancers now boast the most road victories (17) of any team in the West Division. Green Bay and Cedar Rapids are tied for the USHL lead with 18 road wins this season.
* The Lancers pace all USHL clubs with 34 first goals this season. The next closest team is the Sioux Falls Stampede, which has tallied 25 first goals this year. Omaha is 26-7-1 when scoring first this season.
* Omaha owns a +40 goals-for to goals-against differential in first period play this season - by the far the best of any USHL team.
* The Lancers enter the upcoming weekend of USHL action with the league's top rated power play (23.6%) complemented by the USHL's best penalty kill (85.6%). Omaha's PK has surrendered just four power play goals against over the last 14 games going 46-for-50 (92.0%) during that stretch.
* Omaha's defense continues to rank among the best in the league having surrendered just 116 goals against this season (2nd overall) while giving up an average of just 2.47 goals-against per game (2nd).
* With a win Friday in Lincoln coupled with a regulation victory in Sioux City on Saturday, the Lancers will have clinched a berth in the USHL's Clark Cup playoffs for the 21st consecutive season.
United States Hockey League Stories from February 24, 2010
- Carr And Driver: New Phantoms Coach Outlines Plan For Improvement - Youngstown Phantoms
- West Division Rivals Await Lancers - Omaha Lancers
- National Team Development Program Weekly Update - U.S. National Team
- Kenne Departs For Dubuque - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Waterloo Black Hawks Weekly - Waterloo Black Hawks
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