Down Two Late, Stars Stun USNTDP, Rally for Shootout Victory
March 9, 2019 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Lincoln Stars News Release
Lincoln, NE - It was Warriors Wanted Night at the Ice Box Friday, and against a team stocked with future, first round draft picks, led by the draft's consensus, number one prospect, the Stars delivered.
After skating with USA's U18's for the first five minutes of play, the Stars were beaten by Cole Caufield, who added the 98th and 99th goals of his USNTDP career in the first, moving him well within striking distance of Phil Kessel's program record of 104. Caufield's goals sandwiched Jack Hughes' seventh marker of his USHL season, a point that moved him past Kessel and into sole possession of second place in NTDP scoring history with 181 points. At the end of the first, the Stars trailed 3-0 in the column and had been out-shot 19-3.
The start of the second mirrored the script of the first. The Stars skated with the U18's for the first five minutes of the frame, but failed to capitalize on any chances generated against Cameron Rowe. Shortly after the quarter marker of the second, Jack Hughes sprung free on an odd-man rush, besting Samuel Hlavaj for the 4-0 lead. Seeing this and a shot disparity that heavily favored the visitors, the Stars could have elected to fold, but instead dug in. Weathering further pressure from USA, the Stars struck back just shy of the halfway point of the period. Jordan Power and Matthew Barbolini combined to set up Brock Bremer for a power play goal. With renewed life, the Stars began to push back, narrowing the shot differential and sustaining pressure on rushes up the ice.
The push would survive the second intermission, and in the third, the Stars offense awoke. Just 19 seconds into the period, Ross Mitton pounced on an 18's breakout attempt. Ripping a puck free in the slot, Mitton spun and fired a shot past Rowe to cut the score to 4-2. Sparked, the Stars would keep the pressure on while Samuel Hlavaj stood tall in the face of USA's counter-offensives. Following a prolonged shift in the offensive zone, Grant Johnson buried a tally through a tired 18's defense, bringing the Stars and their crowd roaring back to life at 12:49. Steven Agriogianis and Aidan Thomospon would collect helpers on the score, handing the former a point against his former program and the latter his first point in the USHL. Just under three minutes later, USA appeared to let all the air out of the Stars balloon, after Cam York found twine on the power play to reclaim a two-goal lead.
The Stars refused to go quietly. After a post-whistle dust up at 17:53 saw both sides sent to the box, the Stars were assessed a power play off of a double-minor handed to USA. Pulling Hlavaj pushed the Stars to a 5-on-3 advantage in the game's final minutes. In over the line, Ross Mitton played a puck to Tristan Ashbrook, who fed Samuli Niinisaari at the top of the USA zone.The Finnish defender ripped a shot by Rowe to cut the Stars deficit back to one.with 1:39 to play. Just 12 seconds later, Niinisaari would strike yet again, as the Stars stormed the crease with the benefit of an extra attacker once more. Finding the puck and putting it around Rowe, Niinisaari brought a roar from the crowd, and a surge of momentum to the Lincoln bench. No further scoring could be found in the final seconds of the third, pushing the game to overtime.
The extra period was fast-moving, with each side generating but failing to finish off quality chances. The draw persisted after each netminder made three saves in the five-minute period. Into the shootout, the Stars and Hlavaj knew they would face a daunting lineup. Cole Caufield, Jack Hughes, Alex Turcotte, and Trevor Zegras all share potential to be a highly drafted prospects this summer, but on this night,all four were sent packing as the Slovak netminder stood his tallest.Cameron Rowe responded likewise, answering the first three Stars challengers in Niinisaari, Michael Colella, and Hunter Skinner. Matthew Barbolini, the fourth, had been robbed on multiple occasions throughout the evening when facing Rowe from a high-scoring area. Redemption came in the form of a game-winning, walk-off score off a shot Barbolini rifled past Rowe to secure victory for the Stars.
Counting overtime and shootout saves, Samuel Halvaj stopped 34 of 36 after the first period. His strength in net, plus a power play that netted two goals, were crucial to Lincoln's comeback. Lincoln will return to host the U18's once again tomorrow night at 7:05 pm CST at the Ice Box. Tomorrow night is Ag. Night, where the Stars celebrate the local farming community, sponsored by 104.9 Max Country and Rural Radio Network.
A full promo schedule for the remaining games this season can be found here. Enjoy All You Can Eat Hockey at single home games by purchasing a group of five or more, or grab one of our multi-game memberships to secure the same seat each game. Parking is completely FREE this season!
United States Hockey League Stories from March 9, 2019
- Ohrvall Adds to Hat Collection - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Stars Fall 9-3 to USA U18's - Lincoln Stars
- Dubuque Downed by Des Moines' Two Late Third Period Goals - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Steel Earn Point in Wild Overtime Contest, 5-4 - Chicago Steel
- Sioux City Fails To Fight Off The Storm - Sioux City Musketeers
- Central Illinois Defeats Muskegon, 4 to 0, Thanks to Explosive First - Central Illinois Flying Aces
- Central Illinois Stuns Muskegon Early, Earns First Win over Lumberjacks 4-0 - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Preview - USA U18's at Stars - Lincoln Stars
- Preview: Storm Go for Back to Back Wins against Sioux City - Tri-City Storm
- Down Two Late, Stars Stun USNTDP, Rally for Shootout Victory - Lincoln Stars
- Storm Open Home Weekend with 5-1 Win over Musketeers - Tri-City Storm
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