Mayorov's Late Goal Gives Lincoln Win over Stampede
April 18, 2021 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Lincoln Stars News Release
LINCOLN, Neb. - Nikolai Mayorov's team-leading 16th goal of the season was the game-winner as the Lincoln Stars (20-27-4) pulled away with a 6-4 victory over the Sioux Falls Stampede (18-30-4) on Saturday night at the Ice Box.
Henry Nelson drew the Stars faithful out of their seats just over five minutes into the game, scoring his first USHL goal to give Lincoln an early lead. The 18-year-old scored 11 goals this season with Maple Grove High School (MN) before making his debut in the league on Tuesday in Des Moines. James Stefan and Dominic James chipped in with assists on Nelson's goal.
Luke Mittelstadt doubled Lincoln's lead by adding his first USHL goal under two minutes later on the power play. The former Eden Prairie High School (MN) captain picked a corner from the right circle. It would be James and Stefan collecting apples on Mittelstadt's tally at 7:17.
Stefan registered his third point in the opening period when he poked the puck around a defender in the neutral zone and blasted a wrist shot over the right shoulder of Trent Burnham for his tenth goal of the season. Stefans's goal gave Lincoln a 3-0 lead at 14:42 with Yu Sato and Jake Beaune being awarded assists.
After one period, the Stars were in total control, up 3-0 and outshooting Sioux Falls 10-7. Michael Citara ushered in a quick response for the visitors right off the hop in period two with a power-play goal 11 seconds in. Dan Russell scored shorthanded at 3:33, cutting Lincoln's lead to one.
Shortly after the ensuing face-off, Jack O'Leary swatted a puck from the slot upstairs on Burnham after a dish from Aidan Thompson, restoring the Stars' two-goal advantage . The 21-year-old's 11th goal of the season came 13 seconds after Russell's.
Will Dineen helped Sioux Falls continue to claw back by scoring on the power play at 8:46 while Sam Rhodes tied the game at 15:13 with an even-strength marker. Forty minutes of hockey was played and Lincoln's three-goal cushion was squandered. The Stampede outshot the Stars 12-10.
Both teams had chances to score on power plays in the third period, but both Burnham and Aidan McCarthy kept the game tied. Luke Toporowski was ejected from the game for boarding Cole Craft with a late hit at 10:49, but Sioux Falls extinguished the five-minute major without allowing a goal.
With overtime looming, Beaune and Carter Schade started the breakout in Lincoln's defensive zone. Schade sent up a stretch pass down the left-wing side, connecting with Mayorov, who raced into the attacking zone.
Without hesitation, Mayorov ripped a shot from the left circle, beating Burnham over the glove from distance. Mayorov's fifth goal against Sioux Falls this season was recorded at the 16:59 mark of the third period.
Noah Laba provided the exclamation point with an empty-net goal with under 40 seconds left in regulation, putting the game out of reach. Aidan McCarthy (19 saves) picked up his seventh win of the season, improving to 5-4-2 with Lincoln since being acquired from the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the middle of the year. Burnham stopped 22 in the loss.
Lincoln was 6-for-8 on the penalty kill and 2-for-10 on the power play.
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United States Hockey League Stories from April 18, 2021
- Storm Drop Third Straight Game to Buccaneers - Tri-City Storm
- Chicago Steel Named Anderson Cup Champions for Second-Straight Season - USHL
- Mayorov's Late Goal Gives Lincoln Win over Stampede - Lincoln Stars
- Storm Host Buccaneers for "Fan Appreciation Night" - Tri-City Storm
- Phantoms Come from Behind to Cut Down Muskegon 4-3 in Overtime - Youngstown Phantoms
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