The Omaha Lancers fall by a deceptive 5-2 score in Kearney, Nebraska, Friday night at the Viaero Center. Despite the Lancers dominating Tri-City in the third period of play, Tri-City was able to net a couple of shoddy empty-netters to give them the three-goal win.

Omaha (2-5-0-0) entered the third period trailing by two goals, but Tri-City (6-3-0-0) was able to hold off a mad dash made by Omaha in the final frame. Tri-City grabbed their two empty-net goals to ice the game and extend their league-leading 8 empty-net markers this season.

The Storm drew first blood with just over a minute to go in the opening frame, as the Krayer brothers connected off a Lancers turnover. Dylan Krayer was credited with the goal after scoring on a sprawling Anthony Sciere to make it 1-0 Storm after the first period.
 
Tri-City was able to cash in two more in the second period, both of which came off Lancer turnovers. Each of those Tri-City tallies came just under 3 minutes apart to give Tri-City some cushion headed into the third.

Ryan Aaronson knotted up the game at one goal apiece at the 4:21 mark of the second period. Aaronson cashed in with already his third short-handed tally this season. It's now the first time since Filip Suchy, back in the 2017-18 campaign, a Lancer netted at least three short-handed tallies in a single season. Defenseman Thaddeus McMahon air-mailed a pass to a wide-open Aaronson at center ice before the veteran forward coasted in, shooting blocker-side past Tri-City's Quinn Beumer.
 
Yegor Kim netted the Lancers' second tally at the 9:25 mark of the third period. Kim received a cross-ice feed from Adam Israilov from the faceoff circle to cut the deficit to 3-2. That would be Kim's 4th goal of the season, and Israilov's second point (1+1) in as many games played.

The Lancers take on the Tri-City Storm tomorrow for First Responders Night at Liberty First Credit Union Arena, Puck drops at 6:05. All first responders can show their ID at the box office to receive up to four free tickets to the game. Tickets for all Lancers home games can be purchased at lancers.com.