Lancers Push Bucs Closer to Elimination
Des Moines - The Omaha Lancers used four power-play goals Saturday night to overpower Des Moines and push the Buccaneers to the brink of elimination.
Omaha rolled to a 5-2 victory to grab a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five first-round playoff series. The Lancers can close out Des Moines with a win Tuesday night in Game 3 at Ak-Sar-Ben Coliseum.
There were several heroes for the Lancers, who are seeking to avenge a first-round playoff loss to the Buccaneers last season. Stepping up Saturday night were:
Forward Dan Welch, who had a hand in all five goals. He scored twice and assisted on the others.
Defenseman Keith McWilliams, whose first goal of the season came at an opportune time. His tally late in the second period extended Omaha's lead to 3-1 just two minutes after the Buccaneers had scored.
Goalie Ray Fraser, who turned in his second consecutive strong playoff performance. He steered aside 22 shots after leading Omaha to a 4-1 win Friday night.
Defensemen Keith Ballard, Bryce Lampman, Jeremy Downs and McWilliams. Those four played the entire game after the Lancers, who were already playing without injured defensemen Jason Krischuk and Chris Harrington, lost defenseman Lee Green midway
through the second period because of a major penalty.
"That was a very gutty win by our guys," Omaha Coach Mike Hastings said. "I'm real proud of
that group, but I've got to emphasize that we haven't won anything yet."
Welch, who scored Omaha's second and fourth goals, obviously has enjoyed his past two trips to the Metro Ice Sports Arena. He scored the only goal in a 1-0 regular-season win March 18.
"Our power play really helped us out tonight," Welch said, "and our defense was outstanding.
Everybody chipped in, and that's what it's going to take to win this."
The Lancers took advantage of a power-play chance in the opening minute after Des Moines forward Gus Groslie was called for charging into Fraser. Yan Stastny tipped a shot past goalie Mike Mantua just 50 seconds into the game.
Welch's goal midway through the period made it 2-0, but the Buccaneers cut the lead in half
with 6:57 left in the second period when Jeff Yurecko scored on the power play. The goal came
late in a five-minute Des Moines power play that came about after Green checked Buccaneers'
forward Andy Nelson from behind.
But McWilliams' goal, on a high shot from the blue line, allowed Omaha to regain its two-goal lead. The Lancers put the game away in the third period when Welch scored on a rebound, his second goal, and Riley Riddell connected with a wrist shot.
Riddell's goal, with 7:10 left, sent many of the 3,400 Buccaneers' fans streaming toward the exits. Most weren't around when Des Moines forward David Klema capped the scoring with 4:40 left.
"Their power-play goals really stunned our crowd," Des Moines Coach Tom Carroll said. "And I thought their third goal (McWilliams') was really a backbreaker."
