The Omaha Lancers suffered their first loss when scoring first as they fell to the Sioux Falls Stampede, 4-3, in their home opener Saturday night at Liberty First Credit Union Arena.
Omaha (2-6-0-0) went on the penalty kill six times and surrendered two power-play goals, both in the second period. Nils Maurins shined in net in his second start, stopping 42 shots while Cam Caron scored his first USHL goal. The Lancers scored in the opening two minutes of each of the first two periods but could not hang on to two different leads as Sioux Falls (4-2-1-0) rallied to score three consecutive goals to come back from a 2-1 deficit and restore the lead for good.
Adam Israilov kicked off the scoring for Omaha, striking just a minute-and-a-half into the opening frame. Israilov jumped up into the rush and received a feed from Thaddeus McMahon as Israilov stickhandled around a sprawling goaltender Waylon Esche to make it 1-0, Lancers.
Cam Caron scored Omaha's other quick goal to open a period just 48 seconds into the middle-frame. Caron spun with the puck at the near faceoff circle, ripping it past Esche to put the Lancers back in front at, 2-1.
Cooper Soller tied the game up in the final minute of the first period to help the Stampede respond. Logan Renkowski netted a pair of power-play markers in the second period, helping the 'Herd take a 3-2 lead going into the final frame. Thomas Zocco netted the eventual game-winner as he received a feed in the slot 3:16 into the third.
Kole Hyles capped off the scoring for Omaha mid-way in the third, intercepting a clearing attempt and wristing it past Esche to cut the Sioux Falls lead to one at 7:37 of the third.
Jake Prunty of the Sioux Falls Stampede led all skaters with 3 points (1+2) for his first three career USHL points.
The Lancers will take the ice again Wednesday Night at Liberty First Credit Union Arena to take on a cross-conference foe, the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. It's Wiener Wednesday and hot dogs are $3 all game long. Puck drop will be at 7:05 p.m. CST. Tickets are available at lancers.com
