USHL 4 First-Period Goals Spark Lancers' Romp
BY MIKE PATTERSON
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
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After losing their previous game in overtime, the Omaha Lancers took steps Friday night to
avoid a similar situation.
The Lancers struck for four first-period goals - three on the power play - and cruised to a
7-1 victory over the Green Bay Gamblers. It was Omaha's largest offensive output since a
7-4 win at Rochester on Sept. 30.
"You don't know how much we needed this game," Omaha Coach Mike Hastings said. "I've been waiting for a
game like this and it feels good."
What was surprising is that the seven-goal performance came against the Gamblers, statistically the best
defensive team in the United States Hockey League. And five of the seven goals were surrendered by goalie Jure
Penko, who entered the game with a 2.17 goals-against average.
The offensive star for Omaha was defenseman Bryce Lampman, who scored three third-period goals. But despite
his first hat trick in junior hockey, the University of Nebraska at Omaha recruit was not selected as one of the
game's three stars in a postgame promotion.
"I guess I needed to score a couple more," Lampman said with a smile. "I was just happy the coach put me out
there in the final minutes to have a chance for it."
The Lancers had decided the game - played in front of 4,372 at Ak-Sar-Ben Coliseum - well before Lampman's
third-period heroics. They peppered two Green Bay goalies with 17 shots in the first period and came out holding a 4-0 lead.
"It's always big to get that first goal," Hastings said. "Then we threw three power-play goals at them and really took
charge."
Forward Jake Fleming put Omaha ahead five minutes into the game when he pounced on a puck that had caromed
off the boards and beat Penko. Yan Stastny made it 2-0 a few minutes later, scoring from the slot on the power play.
After Marc Bowen had replaced Penko in goal, Matt Moore notched his first of the season midway through the
period. The lead grew with 5:33 left in the period when defenseman Jason Krischuk beat Bowen.
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