By ROB LIPPOLIS,

RALSTON, NE – With a 4-2 win on Friday night, the Omaha Lancers not only clinched a spot in the Western Conference Semifinal round but also ended a record setting 17-game winning streak by defeating the first place Youngstown Phantoms in front of a another sellout crowd of over 3,500 at Ralston Arena.

Steven Spinner electrified the home crowd as he gave the Lancers a first period lead. Jimmy Schuldt from his own zone lifted the puck out to the neutral zone. Spinner saw this and chased the puck down, lifting the stick of the defender and forcing a turnover. The University of Nebraska-Omaha commit took the puck around the defense and beat Youngstown goaltender Chris Birdsall for a 1-0 lead with 5:33 left in the opening period. It was Spinner’s 21st of the year assisted by Jimmy Schuldt.

Spinner helped give Omaha a two-goal lead late in the period. Brendan Smith fired the puck onto the stick of Spinner. Ryan Donato let off the speed a bit and trailed to take the pass from Spinner. Donato went in and moved the puck by Birdsall for his third goal in five games to give the Lancers a 2-0 lead with only 1:13 remaining on the clock in the first period. With the assist, Spinner now had 11 points in six games.

Early in the second period Donato struck again, this time on the man advantage. Just 2:10 after the puck dropped on the middle frame the Lancers set up on the power-play. Matt Joyaux took the puck from the left wing circle and found Donato waiting with his stick ready to go at the bottom of the right circle. Joyaux sent the puck through the slot and Donato ripped it by Birdsall who was sprawling to his left. Joyaux and Niklas Folin came away with assists on Donato’s fourth tally on the year to give Omaha a 3-0 lead.

Youngstown put together good shifts towards the end of the second period and it paid off. Kiefer Sherwood moved the puck out to center ice and lifted a saucer pass over the blueline right onto the tape of Josh Melnick. After receiving the pass at the top of the circles, Melnick scored his 14th goal of the year to get the Phantoms on the board with 6:07 left in the period reducing Omaha’s lead to 3-1. Sherwood and Max Letunov were credited with the helpers.

Great work down low by Matt Meier and Louie Rowe helped Anthony Angello fire in his 17th of the year to give the Lancers a 4-1 lead. Angello waited at the front of the net as the puck tricked out to the top of the crease. As goaltender Chris Birdsall tried diving on it, Angello sent it to the back of the net just 1:28 into the final period for another three-goal lead.

Youngstown responded just about seven minutes later on a scramble in front of the net that resulted in a pile. The puck went up and behind Kris Oldham who tried to fall on top of it. At the same time, the Lancers defense tried to pull the puck out as well but it eventually crossed the line and was awarded after video review. The goal was credited to Josh Nenadal and assisted by Connor Yau and Tyler Sheehy decreasing Omaha’s lead to 4-2.

Kris Oldham earned second star honors denying 27 of 29 shots in the win.

The Omaha Lancers are back home tomorrow night to finish out their series with the Youngstown Phantoms at 7:05PM. Tomorrow is Lancers Legends Night presented by the Omaha Lancers Booster Club. Chris Hepp and Andrew Conboy return to sign autographs before the game! Can’t make it? LIVE coverage of the game begins at 6:50PM CST with the Valpak Pregame Show on The Mighty 1290 KOIL, www.mighty1290koil.com, and www.fasthockey.com.

Stay current with the latest team news by visiting www.lancers.com. In addition stay connected with the Lancers on Facebook (/omahalancers), Twitter (@omahalancers), and the team’s Youtube channel (/lancershockey)