OMAHA, NE. - The Omaha Lancers took on the Waterloo Black Hawks for the second time this season. The Lancers came off a 4-1 loss last night to the Des Moines Buccaneers, while the Waterloo Black Hawks came off a 5-2 win on the road over the Sioux Falls Stampede.
In what was a chippy first period, triggered by physical play, resulted in what was a very entertaining 20 minutes.
With that said some unfortunate injuries sustained to Waterloo, made it even more chippy. Just 1:11 into the game Waterloo forward Owen Baker fell awkwardly into the boards, Baker was helped off the ice and would later return to action.
Waterloo had multiple powerplay opportunities, but the number one penalty kill in the league coming into the game, killed off both Waterloo powerplays.
The Penalty kill seemed to give the Lancers a boost, as it was forward Braydon Beahm who buried a one timer in tight past Black Hawk netminder Emmett Croteau making it 1-0 Omaha.
Beahm's goal woke up Waterloo's ugly side as shortly thereafter, Waterloo forward Owen Baker who returned from an injury earlier in the frame, had words with Lancer defenseman Max Wattvil, as they would drop the gloves and both would get sent off for fighting majors.
With just under 5 minutes to go in the first, Waterloo forward Gavin O'Connell takes a shoulder check from Lancer forward Alex Bump into the boards. He would be helped off the ice by a number of his teammates, he would not return.
Later in the first with just under two minutes to go, Lancer defenseman Nate Benoit finds himself on a breakaway, but was unable to score, as Croteau made a great glove save.
The second period featured a continuation of Omaha's physical play. Waterloo began to wear down from the on slot of hits, and the Lancers would capitalize, as defenseman Marcus Broberg finds himself alone at the hashmarks and he rips it top shelf past the Montreal Canadiens draft pick to make it 2-0 Omaha.
Later in the second Waterloo began to find some momentum, led by their top two defensemen Sam Rinzel and Aaron Pionk, who dictated play through the rest of that second period, but Lancer netminder Michael Hrabal was up to the task. With his impressive play, and deceptively quick movements in net make him a privilege to watch.
The third period came, and it was all Waterloo. Starting with a James Hong goal out in front to cut the deficit in half at 2-1.
Later in the second, the Lancers physical play was starting to fade, and Waterloo once again takes advantage, as it was Garrett Schifsky who was all alone in front of the net, Hrabal had no chance to make the stop, and just like that it was 2-2 going into the overtime period.
The overtime was short live, as Waterloo carried their momentum from the third into the extra frame. It was Gavyn Thoreson who scored on a 2-on-1 break to complete the Waterloo comeback in a 3-2 loss for the Omaha.
The Lancers go to 3-2-2-1. Meanwhile the Black Hawks improve to 4-4-0-0.
The Lancers are back in action next Friday night against their arch rivals-the Lincoln Stars. Puck drop is at 7:05 CST. You can catch the game on Mixlr or on FloSports.
We at Lancer Nation want to wish Gavin O'Connell a speedy recovery, and we will keep him in our prayers.
