PAPILLION, NE – The Omaha Lancers began Saturday’s game in a must win situation or face being down two games with another game Sunday night in Fargo. The Lancers would need to do something they had managed to handle only once all season; beat Fargo at home. The Force did everything they could the night prior mixing good offense, defense, and of course solid special teams play.
Carrying a big win into game two did little to jumpstart Fargo in the first period. Danny Kristo scored at 10:09 in the first on the power play to get Omaha started on their road to recovery. With Omaha down a skater later in the period, Fargo continued their solid special teams play and netted a tying goal on the power play from Andy Taranto. Taranto’s goal tied the game at one a piece going into the first intermission.
Omaha went down a skater in the second with a penalty to Ian Reul at 6:24. Omaha forward Louis Leblanc would score ten seconds later on a shorthanded goal to put Omaha back on top 2-1. With 9:43 off the clock, Johnnie Seafross tied the game for Fargo heading into intermission. Ian Reul would take a tripping penalty in the closing moments of the second to allow the Force to open the third period on a power play.
Fargo’s special teams have been a stellar sight all season, and this evening would be no different. Colten St. Clair scored the second power play goal of the evening for the Force at 1:19 to put Fargo up 3-2 very early in the third. With a lead and Mike Lee stopping everything for Fargo that Omaha placed on net through the first two games, the Force were able to play shut down hockey. Matt Leitner would add an empty net goal for Fargo in the final seconds to give the Force a commanding two game lead with the series returning to Fargo Sunday night.
You may email the author at: john.strathman@prohockeynews.com
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