COPLEY LEADS THE STORM PAST OMAHA, 2-1
Tri-City Goalie Pheonix Copley made 39 saves on 40 shots in win
Friday, September 16, 2011
- Game Summary
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| Storm defenseman Greg Johnson (20) made his preseason debut against the Omaha Lancers |
KEARNEY, Neb. – For the second night in a row, the story for the Tri-City Storm was the solid play of the goaltending, as Pheonix Copley made 39 saves on 40 shots leading the Storm to 2-1 win against the Omaha Lancers.
Tri-City (2-0-0 in preseason), who hasn’t won the first two games of the preseason since 2007, didn’t open the scoring until the 7:18 mark in the second period on a quick right-point shot from LW Justin Henry, which was created via RW Tim Lappin screening Omaha goalie John Keeney in front of the net. The goal was assisted by defensemen Sean O’Rourke and Joona Kunnas.
Lappin would then generate the Storm’s second goal after making a play up the left-wing side into the Omaha zone and backhanding a pass to RW Andrew Dorantes for the game-winner at the 15:49 mark.
Omaha (0-1-0 in preseason) would cut the deficit in the third period to one goal, as forwards Eli Lichtenwald and Matthew Gaudreau would generate a goal out of the right-corner boards and Gaudreau would score on Copley’s stick side at the 4:15 mark.
Copley would be perfect the rest of the way, making 13 saves on 14 shots in the final period alone. The Lancers split time in the crease between Keeney and Alex Lyon, as Keeney picked up the loss with 15 saves on 16 shots, and Lyon finished the game with seven saves on eight shots.
Tri-City went 0-for-3 on the power play, while going 4-for-4 on the penalty kill.
The Storm will head to the Fall Classic in Sioux City, Iowa on Wednesday night to play the Fargo Force in the IPB Center at 6:00 p.m (stormhockey.com). Tri-City will play in the Tyson Events Center against the defending Clark Cup Champion – Dubuque Fighting Saints on Thursday night (7:00 p.m. – The Breeze 94.5 FM) and the two-time defending Eastern Conference Champion – Green Bay Gamblers on Friday afternoon (1:00 p.m. – Classic Hits 98.9 FM).
Notes: The Storm did not play forwards Nick Lappin, Heikki Liedes and Davey Middleton, while defenseman Dylan Maller, Dalton Spicer, J.D. Peterson, and goalies Jacob Meyers and Adam Miller were also not in the game… Omaha sat out forwards Adam Chlapik, Kenny Gillespie, Max Vallis, Jonathon Liau and defensemen David Mead… Storm goalies (Miller and Copley) have combined for 70 saves on 71 shots in the first two preseason contest
SCORING SUMMARY
Period 1
(no scoring)
Period 2
Tri-City - Justin Henry (Sean ORourke, Joona Kunnas) 7:18
Tri-City - Andrew Dorantes (Tim Lappin) 15:49
Period 3
Omaha - Matthew Gaudreau (Eli Lichtenwald) 4:15
PENALTIES
Period 1
Omaha - Kenney Morrison - (Slashing), 2 min, 6:51
Tri-City - Soren Jonzzon - (Holding), 2 min, 14:34
Omaha - Victor Newell - (Hooking), 2 min, 16:26
Period 2
Tri-City - Zack Rall - (Fighting Major), 5 min, 6:35
Omaha - Mark Miller - (Fighting Major), 5 min, 6:35
Tri-City - Leo Guillemain - (High Sticking), 2 min, 12:43
Tri-City - Sean Murphy - (Holding), 2 min, 19:48
Period 3
Tri-City - Tim Lappin - (Elbowing), 2 min, 10:13
Omaha - Victor Newell - (High Sticking), 2 min, 18:08
Shots
Lincoln – 10, 16, 14 – Total 40
Tri-City – 11, 6, 7 – Total 24
Saves
Lincoln – Jon Keeney (Loss) 15 (16 shots), Alex Lyon (ND) 7 saves (8 shots)
Tri-City – Pheonix Copley (Win) 39 (40 shots)
Power Play
Lincoln – 0/4
Tri-City – 0/3