5 Things: a Thursday Night Thriller in Lincoln
February 25, 2022 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Lincoln Stars News Release
LINCOLN, Neb. - The Lincoln Stars (24-13-2-3) rallied for a 7-6 overtime win against the Fargo Force (17-20-4-1) on Thursday night at the Ice Box. Here are five things that happened:
1.) Seven Mason Army
Mason Marcellus scored the game-winning goal in the shootout on Saturday night in Des Moines and he came up big once again on Thursday against Fargo.
After a 12-goal regulation period, Stars head coach Rocky Russo sent out Marcellus, Jo Lemay and Antonio Fernandez for the first shift of 3-on-3 overtime. The Force won the opening face-off and was able to generate a shot on goal, but failed to keep possession after Bret Link broke into the Stars defensive zone. Fernandez poked away the rush and Lemay collected the puck, eyeing a streaking Marcellus through the neutral zone.
The Washington Capitals draft pick laid a perfect feed up ahead, springing Marcellus over the blue line before the 19-year-old forward slid a backhander inside the near side post. Marcellus' eighth goal of the season came 34 seconds into overtime, extending his point streak to three games. In his last nine outings, the Quinnipiac commit has 11 points (three goals, eight assists). Marcellus ranks fifth on the Stars in points with 27 this season.
2.) Keaton's Big Night
Keaton Peters came into Thursday night's game with five points in his young USHL career. The 17-year-old exploded with a four-point effort, scoring two goals and adding two assists.
His first goal of the night and third of the season came after a blocker save from Cameron Whitehead in the first period. Brayden Stannard grabbed the rebound in the slot and charged north, breaking over the blue line before sending a pass to the right circle for Peters. The Sussex, WI native beat Matej Marinov past the glove hand, cutting Fargo's early 2-0 lead in half 14:36 into the first.
In the third period, Peters would be called on again, striking at 8:40. Peters tied the game 5-5 with assists coming from Stannard and Patrick Raftery. The 17-year-old winger scored yet again from the right circle, but instead ripped a shot past the blocker of Marinov.
He was very good on the face-off dot, too, leading to Lemay's goal in the second period. Peters was also awarded a shift in the final 90 seconds of regulation, having a hand in Fernandez's game-tying goal. The Northern Michigan commit was also a plus-three, rounding out a career night for No. 10 in gray.
3.) Tony Express
Fernandez kept up his offensive prowess in Thursday's win, potting three points (one goal, two assists). The 18-year-old defenseman extended his point streak to seven games in the process; he has scored five goals over that stretch ... none bigger than his goal with under 90 seconds left in the third period on Thursday.
The College of the Holy Cross commit had the puck carried to him at the right point by Noah Laba, allowing the defenseman to use space to drive to the right circle, picking the far corner of the net while Marcellus provided a screen.
Fernandez's shot tied the game at six at 18:49 as the Stars fans at the Ice Box erupted. He picked up a primary assist on Carter Schade's goal in the second period and a secondary helper on Marcellus' OT winner.
The San Jose, CA native is currently second in goals among Stars defensemen, trailing captain Dalton Norris (16).
4.) Offense from the Defense
After three tallies on Saturday from their defensive corps, the Stars are up to 46 goals in the 2021-22 season.
Aside from Fernandez's clutch marker, Lemay kept the Stars in the game in the second period when Lincoln trailed 4-1. Peters and Raftery worked the puck back to the right point after an offensive zone win and Lemay did the rest. The 19-year-old defenseman fired a shot, blasting the release past an unsuspecting Marinov for his seventh of the season.
Following Fargo's fifth goal of the game at 17:44, the home side was looking for yet another response after falling behind by three for the second time on Thursday. Schade provided the spark, adding his third goal of the year at 19:29. Time and time again, Lincoln has relied on their defensemen for offense. And time and time again, they've delivered. Compared to the rest of the league, this type of production is extremely rare.
The Stars have twelve more goals than the club with the second-most goals from defensemen in the USHL (Madison Capitols - 32).
5.) Up To Second
Thursday's 7-6 win marked Lincoln's fourth three-game winning streak this season as they've collected points in eight of their last ten games (6-2-0-2).
The Stars currently sit solely in second place in the Western Conference with 53 points. Sioux City is third in the West with a game in hand on the Stars and can retake the No. 2 spot with a win Friday night in Des Moines. This is critical as the top two teams in each conference are given a first-round bye in this year's Clark Cup Playoffs.
Lincoln takes on the Musketeers on Saturday night at the Ice Box. The puck drops at 6:05 p.m. for Star Wars Night!
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