5 Things: Stars Stomp Stampede
Published on December 18, 2021 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Lincoln Stars News Release
The Lincoln Stars (13-7-1-1) crushed the Sioux Falls Stampede (8-13-0-1) 7-1 on Friday night at the Ice Box. Here are five things that happened:
PLAYING FAST
Lincoln's starts have been a focal point in 2021-22 and they got off on the right foot 7:11 into Friday night's game when Dalton Norris notched his ninth goal of the season and eighth power-play tally.
Jo Lemay and Aidan Thompson picked up the assists on the captain's one-timer from the right circle. Although Jack Reimann scored just under two minutes later to tie the game, the Stars weren't discouraged and continued to generate offense. Lincoln would receive another power play later in the first period, allowing the second unit to shine.
Mason Marcellus ripped a shot from the left circle by Stampede goaltender Noah Grannan, giving Lincoln a 2-1 lead with 4:51 remaining in the first period. The Quinnipiac commit registered his fourth goal of the year with Michael Mastrodomenico and Antonio Fernandez collecting helpers.
Marcellus wasn't done in the opening frame, however. Just over three minutes later, Carter Schade sprung him through the neutral zone, allowing the 19-year-old forward to use his skill in tight. Marcellus deked from the forehand to the backhand, lifting the puck past Grannan, doubling Lincoln's lead at 18:30. Fernandez was given the secondary assist on Marcellus' second goal of the period.
Jackson Baker made 11 first-period saves in his first USHL start, locking down the fort, freeing up the Stars offense to create.
young blood
After a four-goal (and 29-shot) first period, the pace died down in the second period. Perimeter play was the theme in the second stanza as both teams couldn't get much going. In the last five minutes of period two, the Stars youth took center stage. Keaton Peters increased Lincoln's lead to 4-1 with his first USHL goal at 15:13, sending a wrist shot short-side into the top corner on a 2-on-1 rush.
The play started in the defensive zone with Joey Pierce laying the puck up to Dashel Oliver, who quickly fed Peters through the neutral zone. In his 10th game with the Stars, the 53rd overall selection in the 2020 Futures Draft didn't hesitate on the ensuing chance. Pierce secured his first USHL point with the secondary assist.
On the next shift, Patrick Raftery stole the puck in the neutral zone, starting up another odd-man rush for the Stars. Instead of taking the shot, the first-year forward sent a perfect backhanded pass across to Oliver, who tapped home his first USHL goal 45 seconds after Peters' strike.
Oliver, who was selected 19th overall in this past summer's Futures Draft, amassed his first two USHL points in the same minute.
YOU GET A POINT & YOU GET A POINT
The Stars kept their foot on the gas in the third period as Norris scored his second power-play goal of the game (Lincoln's third of the night) 44 seconds in. The Oxford, MI native was posted along the near-side circle and Thompson hit him yet again for a one-timer. With his team-leading tenth tally of the season and ninth PPG, Norris tied Chicago Steel forward Sam Lipkin for the league lead in power-play goals.
Fernandez joined the goal-scoring party late in regulation with his fourth goal of 2021-22, blasting a shot past Grannan off a nice feed from Griffin Jurecki behind the net. Thompson added yet another assist on Fernandez's goal, giving the 19-year-old his third assist of the night.
The University of Denver commit is fourth in the USHL in assists, despite being sidelined with an upper-body injury a few weeks ago. In fact, Thompson (1.56) ranks second qualified USHL players in points per game, trailing Dubuque's Stephen Halliday (1.58). The Stars alternate captain is currently riding an eight-game personal point streak, recording two points or more in seven straight.
It was a great display of offense for the Stars as 13 players registered at least one point while four racked up multiple points.
DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE
However, Friday night's win wasn't just about the offense. Lincoln's defense swarmed Sioux Falls, stunting their transition and beating them on retrievals and 50/50 pucks. After allowing twelve first-period shots on goal, the Stampede were held to a single shot in the entire second period. They only mustered seven shots in the third period as the Stars turned in their most complete effort of the 2021-22 campaign.
The Stars held Sioux Falls to 20 total shots, a much lower mark than their average of 30-plus coming into the weekend.
Lincoln was also 5-for-5 on the penalty kill, improving to 86.2 percent successful on the season. They are third in the USHL in that regard and are the first team this season to kill 100 power-play attempts.
WELCOME TO THE (BAKE) SHOW
And how can you not talk about Jackson Baker? The 18-year-old has waited patiently all season long, hoping for his first USHL start to come. Due to Kaidan Mbereko representing the United States in the World Juniors and Cameron Whitehead nursing a lower-body injury, Friday presented Baker with what he'd been waiting for.
And he delivered.
The Hermosa Beach, CA native looked poised and in control, turning aside eleven shots in the first period, as previously mentioned. He only had to make eight more saves in the ensuing 40 minutes, but the Stars defense helped ease whatever nerves Baker had before the opening puck drop. Baker stopped 19 shots on goal en route to his first career win; he also earned the No. 1 Star of the Game honors, including the Top Dog of the Game, presented by The Canine Scrub.
His best save came early on after a shot from the deep slot by Ryan Healey through traffic that was snared with the glove. Blake Humphrey had a mini break-in late in the third period, but Baker turned it aside with an easy blocker stop. It was Baker's second appearance with the Stars after making his debut in Waterloo in a 28-plus minute relief stint in Waterloo on October 23rd.
Stars head coach Rocky Russo was proud of his rookie netminder for putting in the work leading up to this moment:
"We have confidence in Jackson, but that's a big moment for any goalie, not just Jackson Baker," Russo said postgame. "For any goalie, period. Jackson was prepared and focused. He knew he was going to get his opportunity and he did a great job with it. I'm incredibly proud of him for being poised and prepared."
Lincoln travels to Sioux Falls to finish off the home-and-home against the Stampede for a 6:05 p.m. puck drop on Saturday night. The game will be broadcasted on HockeyTV and Mixlr.
United States Hockey League Stories from December 18, 2021
- Win Streak Ends at Three - Green Bay Gamblers
- Third Period Explosion Leads Muskegon to 3-2 Victory over Green Bay - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Stampede Head into Holiday Break with Big Win over Lincoln - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Bucs Take down Omaha - Des Moines Buccaneers
- Storm Seek Weekend Sweep of Musketeers - Tri-City Storm
- 5 Things: Stars Stomp Stampede - Lincoln Stars
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