Hockey: White scores twice as Lancers hold off Bucs' comeback effort

DES MOINES — Forward Matt White scored late in each of the first two periods and the Lancers weathered Des Moines' third-period comeback effort to earn a 5-4 road win Thursday night in front of 2,815 at Buccaneer Arena.

The 20-year-old from Whittier, Calif., added an assist to bring his team-leading point total to 34 and help the Lancers improve to a USHL-best 16-3.

White's first goal came at 14:55 in the opening frame on an assist from Erik Haula. Omaha led 1-0 and held a 13-2 advantage in shots after the first period.

Both teams scored three goals in the second. Des Moine's Yasin Cisse tied the game at 3-3 with an even-strength goal at 15:39, but White responded at 18:19 to give Omaha a 4-3 edge.

Haula gave Omaha some breathing room early in the final period, scoring on an assist from White at 5:13.

The Buccaneers, who own the USHL's third-worst record at 7-11-1, bounced back four minutes later. Chris Stafne, who had two assists in the second period for Des Moines and earned the second star in the game, brought the host Bucs within a goal at 9:24. Des Moines outshot the Lancers 10-6 in the final frame, but Omaha goalie Jeff Teglia made just enough of his 23 saves in the closing minutes to seal the victory.

Omaha will travel to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for a Saturday night showdown with the 9-7-1 RoughRiders.

Omaha (16-3)...............1 3 1—5

At Des Moines (7-11-1).................0 3 1—4

First period: 1, O, Matt White (Erik Haula), 14:55.

Second period: 2, D, Ryan Walters (Chris Stafne), :40. 3, O, Stefan Demopoulos (Joe Lavin, Mathieu Brisson), 10:31. 4, O, Joe Lavin (PP, Erik Haula, Matt White), 12:39. 5, D, T.J. Tynan (PP, Connor Brickley, HT Lenz), 13:05. 6, D, Yasin Cisse (Chris Stafne, Eric Knodel), 15:39. 7, O, Matt White (Dennis Brown, Seth Ambroz), 18:19.

Third period: 8, O, Erik Haula (Matt White), 5:13. 9, D, Chris Stafne (Austin Coldwell, Ryan Walters), 9:24.

Shots on goal:

Omaha...........13 16 6—35

Des Moines...........21 5 10—27

Power plays: Omaha 1 for 4; Des Moines 1 for 7.

Penalties-minutes: Omaha 9-18; Des Moines 8-16.

Goalies: Omaha, Jeff Teglia (27 shots, 23 saves, 60:00). Des Moines, Eric Mihalik (35 shots, 30 saves, 59:36).

Three stars: White, Stafne, Haula.

A: 2,815.

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