LANCERS OUT-DUEL ICE IN SHOOTOUT 3-2
01-18-2008
What’s new? For the sixth time in seven games the Indiana Ice ended up in a shootout---but this time it did not go to form. The Ice lost 3-2 in a shootout to the Omaha Lancers as they suffered only their second shootout loss in nine attempts.
Omaha scored twice in the extra session in the meeting of the two USHL division leaders.
“It was a heck of a hockey game. The score was a direct result of solid goaltending,” commented Indiana Associate Head Coach Scott McConnell.
The Lancers Drew Palmisano and Ice goaltender Scott Darling led their teams to a 2-2 tie through regulation and overtime. Palmisano stopped 30 Indiana shots and Darling turned away 35 Omaha shots.
The Ice had a chance to gain their first lead of the contest in the third period but failed to capitalize on three power play chances. Indiana had to hang on in the game’s final 1:31 of regulation after they were nailed with their only penalty of the final 20 minutes.
Darling was forced to make the save of the game on his own turnover. Darling attempted to clear his defensive end and put the puck on the stick of the Lancers’ Andrew Conboy. Conboy appeared to have Darling beat with 5:10 remaining in regulation but Darling turned Conboy away with a butterfly save.
The teams traded goals in both the first and second periods. Matt White scored both goals for the visitors and notched his second of the game with a power play goal. White’s goal came eight seconds after the Ice was whistled for a penalty 36 ticks into the middle period.
Jake Skjodt redirected a John Carlson slap shot as Indiana made Omaha pay for a hooking penalty. Skjodt made himself home in front of Palmisano’s net and steered Carlson’s shot home for his 15th goal of the season. Brent Gwidt received an assist on the play which ended the second period scoring with 4:46 remaining.
The Lancers scored first when they caught the Ice too deep in their own offensive zone after Indiana was trying to capitalize on their first power play of the game. White picked up a loose puck at the Ice blue line and beat Darling through the 5-hole 6:09 after the opening face-off.
The Ice answered before the 10-minute mark when Robert Martini’s slap shot ricocheted off the post and into the net. Paul Carey and Stepan Novotny picked up assists on Martini’s third goal of the season at 9:25 of the opening period.
Game two of the weekend battle between USHL Division leaders is Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. from Pepsi Coliseum.
