Jurecki, O'Brien Help Stars Win Fourth Straight
April 2, 2021 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Lincoln Stars News Release
LINCOLN, Neb. - The Lincoln Stars (16-24-3) picked up their fourth consecutive win on Thursday night, defeating the Waterloo Black Hawks (17-27-1) 6-3 at the Ice Box.
Noah Laba scored his sixth goal of the season 11:04 into the first period after a terrific feed from Jack O'Brien. James Stefan picked up the secondary assist on the Colgate commit's tally. Griffin Jurecki added a shorthanded goal under five minutes later, blocking a shot in the defensive zone and beating Jack Williams glove-side at the other end. The University of Denver commit's second goal of the season came at 15:23.
At the end of one period, Lincoln was outshot 8-7, but was leading 2-0.
O'Brien notched his first USHL goal 6:30 into the middle frame following a giveaway by Williams behind his net. The 17-year-old stole the puck from the netminder and wrapped the puck in with ease along the near-side post. Laba appeared to put in his second goal of the game on a power play midway through the frame, but it was controversially disallowed due to goaltender interference.
Waterloo took advantage as Ryan O'Hara and Nic Belpedio scored just 95 seconds apart late in the second period, shrinking Lincoln's lead to 3-2. Nikolai Mayorov swayed momentum back to Lincoln's favor with his team-leading 14th goal of the season at 18:16. Aidan Thompson set Mayorov up beautifully after beating two defenders through the neutral zone. Clay Hanus, who missed the previous five games with an upper-body injury, received the secondary apple.
After 40 minutes, the Stars led 4-2.
Ethan Szmagaj cut Lincoln's lead in half at 10:17, putting pressure on the Stars to respond again. Jake Beaune did that 91 seconds later, scoring his sixth goal of the season with a shot from the deep slot. Jurecki and Thompson recorded multi-point outings thanks to their assists on Beaune's strike.
Cole Craft put the game further out of reach, deflecting a shot from Hanus past Charlie Glockner (who relieved Williams in the second period) at 14:46. Yu Sato got on the scoresheet with an assist on Craft's power-play tally.
Ryan Ouellette was extremely sharp early in the game, stopping 28 shots en route to his 13th win of the 2020-21 season. Lincoln's penalty kill was spotless, wiping out all five of Waterloo's power plays. The Stars were 1-for-7 on the man-advantage.
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Lincoln will try to extend their winning streak to five against the red-hot Sioux City Musketeers on Friday night at Tyson Events Center in Sioux City! Watch the game on HockeyTV or listen on Mixlr!
United States Hockey League Stories from April 2, 2021
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- Fighting Saints Stave off Steel - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Sean Farrell Records Single Season Points Record - Chicago Steel
- Stars Pick up Point in Sioux City - Lincoln Stars
- Lancers Top Force 4-0 - Fargo Force
- Musketeers Down Lincoln for Sixth Consecutive Victory - Sioux City Musketeers
- Stampede Drop Home Contest to Tri-City - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Friday Called off in Des Moines - Waterloo Black Hawks
- USHL Announces 2020-21 Clark Cup Playoff Format - USHL
- Tri-City Travels to Sioux Falls for Back-to-Back Games - Tri-City Storm
- Jurecki, O'Brien Help Stars Win Fourth Straight - Lincoln Stars
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