Lancer Goalie Gets Revenge
BY MIKE PATTERSON
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
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After waiting almost a month for redemption, Omaha Lancers goalie Marty Magers got it Friday night against Dubuque.
Magers, making only his second start of the season, steered aside 21 shots in a 4-2 Omaha win. It was the first start for the 17-year-old since an overtime shootout loss Oct. 29 at Sioux City.
"I've been waiting a long time to get back out there," Magers said. "When I got the chance, I wanted to make the most of it."
The Omaha defense, which allowed just two goals in a 7-2 win at Tri-City on Wednesday night, played another strong game. The defense blocked seven potential shots headed for the Lancers' goal, a fact not lost on Magers.
"Make sure you say something nice about my defense," the goalie said. "Our defense doesn't mess around out there."
A crowd of 4,389 (5,093 paid) at Ak-Sar-Ben Coliseum watched Omaha boost its record to 10-0-1 in games in which it scored first. But that first goal didn't come until after the two teams had battled through a scoreless first period.
Forward Dan Welch put Omaha (10-5-3) ahead 1:10 into the second period, scoring on a breakaway. Welch outraced defenseman Eric Weum for the puck and then beat goalie Noah Ruden from close range.
The lead grew exactly one minute later when forward Jim Dahl took advantage of a breakdown in the Dubuque end. He picked up the loose puck and wristed a shot past Ruden.
The Fighting Saints closed within 2-1 late in the period when Jonathan Foster scored his first of two goals on the night. Magers had stopped a shot by Jordan Pennington, but Foster was there to put home the rebound.
Foster tied the game in the early minutes of the third period. He took advantage of a rare giveaway by Omaha defenseman Bryce Lampman and put a shot over Magers' right shoulder.
Omaha scored what proved to be the winning goal on the power play with 12:23 left. Defenseman Keith Ballard took a return pass from forward Yan Stastny and drilled a slapshot over the glove of the left-handed Ruden.
The Lancers capped off the scoring midway through the period when forward Riley Riddell tipped in a shot by defenseman Lee Green.
The win was Omaha's second this week. The Lancers will try to make it three in a row tonight at 7:05 in a game against Des Moines.
Dubuque 0 1 1-2
Omaha 0 2 2-4
First period-Scoring: None. Penalties: O, Ronkowski (elbowing), 2:23. O, Magers (high sticking), 4:41. D, Scatchell (hooking), 6:06. D, Clark (roughing), 8:41. O, Green (roughing), 8:41. O, Thomas (high sticking), 12:57. O, Green (10-minute misconduct), 14:46. O, Harrington (high sticking), 16:49.
Second period-Scoring: 1, Omaha, Welch 10 (Thomas), 1:10. 2, Omaha, Dahl 3 (Guerin, Slattengren), 2:10. 3, Dubuque, Foster (unassisted), 15:55. Penalties: D, Clark (charging), 2:51. D, Shabile (roughing), 3:31. O, Welch (cross checking), 8:02. D, Weum (holding), 18:25. D, Harrington (10-minute misconduct), 18:25.
Third period-Scoring: 4, Dubuque, Foster (Damerow), 1:35. 5, Omaha, Ballard 10 (Stastny), power play, 7:37. 6, Omaha, Riddell 12 (Hacker, Green), 11:04. Penalties: D, Nikle (slashing), 7:12; O, welch (slashing), 14:22.
Shots on goal:
Dubuque 9 8 6-23
Omaha 3 12 11-26
Goalies: Dubuque, Ruden (22 saves); Omaha, Magers (21 saves)
Power-play conversions: Dubuque, 0-5; Omaha, 1-6.
A: 4,389 (5,093)
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