Gameday Preview: vs. Waterloo
January 21, 2022 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Lincoln Stars News Release
*When: Saturday, Jan. 21 at 7:05 p.m.
Where: The Ice Box
Watch: HockeyTV (www.hockeytv.com/game/956574)
Listen: Mixlr (mixlr.com/lincoln-stars)
LINCOLN (16-11-1-1)
The Stars are fresh off a weekend sweep on the road, taking down the Sioux Falls Stampede and the Des Moines Buccaneers. Lincoln was led by individual performances from Aidan Thompson, Griffin Jurecki and Mason Marcellus as the forwards got back to their scoring ways. Carter Schade and Antonio Fernandez chipped in with a goal apiece over the weekend.
In net, Cameron Whitehead and Kaidan Mbereko turned in terrific efforts in their respective starts. Whitehead collected his first USHL shutout last Friday in Sioux Falls, stopping all 33 shots the Stampede threw his way in Lincoln's 2-0 victory. Mbereko made 19 saves en route to his seventh win as the Stars downed the Bucs 5-2.
However, over the last five games, the Stars power play is 0-for-18. They'll need to be sharper against a Waterloo group that's allowed only 15 power-play goals against in 116 chances. Waterloo's penalty kill unit sits at No. 2 in the USHL with a success rate of 87.1 percent.
WATERLOO (15-14-1-1)
The Black Hawks utilized their penalty-killing prowess in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Dubuque Fighting Saints on the road. Cam VanSickle, Connor Brown and Garrett Schifsky all scored. Jack Williams was 16/17, reaching the double-digit mark in wins. Only seven goalies in the USHL have hit 10 wins so far this season; Williams sits fifth in the league in goals-against average (2.54).
Waterloo lost 4-1 in Des Moines on Friday. The Black Hawks are 7-9-1 away from home in 2021-22. They are 10-3-0-1 when scoring first and 9-1-0-1 when leading after the first period. Former Black Hawk (now Sioux Falls Stampede) Michael LaStarza still leads the club with 22 points, but John Waldron is the active point leader with 21 (eight goals, 13 assists).
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
Lincoln and Waterloo split a weekend in October at Young Arena ... Lincoln scored three power-play goals in their previous series against the Black Hawks ... Waterloo was 1-for-3 on the power play on Saturday as Connor Brown scored ... Thompson has goals in back-to-back games ... Whitehead is 2-1 in his last three starts with a GAA of 1.67 and a save percentage of .944 ... Williams lost on October 22nd vs. Lincoln, making 23 saves ... Emmett Croteau could be in line to start as he beat Lincoln on October 23rd (29 saves).
United States Hockey League Stories from January 21, 2022
- Caps Roll in Series Opener over U17s, Win 3rd Straight - Madison Capitols
- Third Period Rally by the Buccaneers Seals a Win over the Lancers - Omaha Lancers
- Stampede Fall Behind Early, Lose to Tri-City - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Phantoms Snap Muskegon's Winning Streak, Lumberjacks Fall 4-3 in Overtime Thriller - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Goaltender Sebastian Wraneschitz Added to Roster - Tri-City Storm
- Gameday Preview: vs. Waterloo - Lincoln Stars
- USHL Back in Dallas for 2022 Frosty Cup - USHL
- USHL Weekly Report - Week 16 - USHL
- Storm Takes Winning Streak to Sioux Falls - Tri-City Storm
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