OMAHA, NE. - The Omaha Lancers took on the Sioux Falls Stampede at Liberty First Credit Union Arena Saturday night. Coming into this game, the Lancers had lost 7 straight, with the most recent one coming from the Fargo Force Sunday in a 5-3 loss. Meanwhile the Sioux Falls Stampede also came off a loss to that same Fargo team Thursday night, losing by the score of 7-2. Since the fall of 2002 coming into this contest, Omaha has held an 81-34-5-5 record in regular season meetings with Sioux Falls. During that 20-year span, Omaha has also outscored Sioux Falls in the regular season 434-327. Omaha would look to continue that impressive trend against the 'Herd.
The first period opened with sound defensive play from Omaha. Sioux Falls pressuring early on, but Omaha was to have none of it, holding on early.
The Lancers eventually get a powerplay opportunity, and they scored on it. Philadelphia Flyers draft pick Alex Bump shoots one off the post and in; short-side, after a terrific feed from forward Andon Cerbone; and it was 1-0 Omaha.
Shortly thereafter, Sioux Falls got a powerplay opportunity themselves, but Lancer forward Tanner Rowe had other plans, as he would find himself on a 2-on-1 shorthanded opportunity, Rowe elected to shoot it short-side, yet again off the post and in; extending Omaha's lead 2-0.
That two-goal lead would be short lived however, as Sioux Falls defenseman Maxim Strbak sends a one-timer past Lancer netminder Michael Hrabal to cut the deficit in half 2-1 at the end of the first, as all three goals in the first would come on special teams.
Omaha would have its first lead at the end of the opening frame since October 22nd against the Waterloo Blackhawks.
The second period had the Lancers playing flat through most of the frame.
Sioux Falls forward Samuel Harris takes advantage, as he would force an Adam Cardona turnover to make it tied at 2 apiece.
Omaha would continue to struggle generating any kind of offense, and the score would hold at 2-2 at the end of the second.
The third period had sloppy play across the board. Omaha continuing to be lack-luster offensively. However Sioux Falls would be no different, as the Stampede would commit several turnovers themselves, disabling any chance of them scoring as well.
Sixty minutes would not be enough to determine a winner, so fans would be treated to free hockey.
The overtime period would have back and forth action, but to no avail, and so both teams would head to the dreaded shootout.
The shootout would commence as the Lancers would end their 7-game losing streak, it was forward Griffin Jurecki that would put it away as the third shooter, Jurecki would shoot it with that oh-so-familiar short-side goal that Omaha had been scoring on all night long leading the Lancers past Sioux Falls 3-2.
The Lancers are back in action Wednesday night in Sioux City at the Tyson Event Center to take on the Sioux City Musketeers. Puck drop is at 7:05 CST. You can catch the game on Mixlr or FloSports.
