USHL Lincoln Stars

Preview - Force at Stars

Published on February 23, 2019 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Lincoln Stars News Release


FARGO FORCE AT LINCOLN STARS

SATURDAY, FEB. 23, 2019 | 7:05 P.M. CST | ICE BOX

RADIO: LINCOLN STARS RADIO | WATCH: HOCKEYTV

Tonight's Contest:

The Stars (10-31-3-2) will meet the Fargo Force (25-16-2-2) for their pair's third contest in the last four games.

Last Game:

The final meeting of the 2018-19 season between the Stars and Black Hawks took place in front of a full crowd at the Ice Box Friday night. The Black Hawks started rolling immediately. Two quick scores at 1:15 from Wyatt Schingoethe and 1:35 by Emil ?-hrvall put the team down 2-0. A third goal came at 6:18 into the period, courtesy of Ryan Dkurlec, chasing Stars starting netminder Samuel Hlavaj. At 16:36, Matej Blümel struck on a power play to build a 4-0 lead for Fargo. Patrick Guzzo capped the frame with a shorthanded strike, sending the teams off to intermission with Waterloo ahead 5-0. The second period started similarly to the first. Just 1:43 in, Hank Sorensen clapped a power play goal past Mucitelli for the 6-0 advantage. At 13:50, Griffin Ness re-directed home his 10th of the year. In the third, Connor Caponi scored the lone goal in a period filled with penalty minutes, fights, and misconducts. When the dust had settled, the Stars fell 8-0.

Last night the Force were in Omaha to take on the surging Lancers. In a defensive battle, Lancers goalie Akira Schmid and Force netminder Ryan Bischel each showcased steadiness through the first two periods of play. Just one goal was scored in the opening 40 minutes, coming from Cole Kodsi with 23 seconds left in the first. Fargo held Omaha to just nine shots in periods one and two, but couldn't muster a goal in in that span. The scoring drought continued all the way until the 17th minute of the third, where Zach Plucinski put Omaha ahead 2-0 at 17:37. Blais Richartz followed up 30 seconds later with an empty netter to move the Lancers lead to 3-0. Fargo would crack the shutout with Adam Gajarsky's tally at 18:58, but the Force would fall 3-0. Akira Schmid was outstanding for Omaha, stopping 26/27. Ryan Bischel took the loss, stopping 14/16.

Head-to-Head:

In a season series that began only last weekend, the Force hold a 2-0 lead over Lincoln. The Stars produced just one goal per contest in North Dakota, falling 6-1 an 4-1. The second meeting was a much closer affair, seeing former teammates Tyler Johnson and Jacob Mucitelli duel for much of the contest. Wyatt Schlaht scored the game's only first period-goal, putting home a feed from off the back wall from Steven Agriogianis. The second saw the Stars robbed by Tyler Johnson on numerous occasions in the first half of the period, keeping Lincoln at bay at even strength and through two power plays. At the end of the second man-advantage, a broken stick created a Stars turnover, and as Daniel Russell exited the box, AJ Drobot found him for a game-tying, breakaway goal. In the third, the Force took their first lead just 1:!0 in following Tanner Vescio's third goal of the season. Tyler Johnson would stay steady for Fargo, withstanding 11 Stars shots and one power play. The Stars would pull Mucitelli for the extra attacker with 2:10 to play in search of the game-tying goal. Instead, Hank Crone put a puck in an empty net with 1:13 remaining. Crone would add insult to injury by scoring again at 19:21 during 5-on-5 play, sealing a 4-1 Fargo win. Jacob Mucitelli was excellent in a tough-luck loss, stopping 21 of 24. Tyler Johnson was strong in the win, making 29 saves on 30 shots.

GF: FGO-3.13 (t-9th) to LIN-2.54 (16th)

GA: FGO-2.89 (6th) to LIN-4.00 (17th)

Shots For/G: FGO-28.16 (12th) to LIN-27.83 (13th)

Shots Against/G: FGO-26.69 (3rd) to LIN-31.15 (14th)

PP: FGO-34/162, 21.0% (8th) to LIN-26/181, 14.4% (16th)

SHGA: FGO-5 (t-9th) to LIN-9 (t-16th)

PK: FGO-147/174, 84.5% (3rd) to LIN-144/178, 80.9% (6th)

SHGF: FGO-3 (t-10th) to LIN-2 (t-14th)

Leading Scorers:

G: FGO-Ben Meyers 27, LIN-Brock Bremer and Caleb Rule 12

A: FGO-Hank Crone 39, LIN-Brock Bremer, Jordan Power, and Hunter Skinner with 14

TP: FGO-Ben Meyers 56, LIN-Brock Bremer 26

Goalies:

W: FGO-Ryan Bischel 21, LIN-Jacob Mucitelli 3

GAA: FGO-Ryan Bischel 2.62, LIN-Jacob Mucitelli 3.73

SV%: FGO-Ryan Bischel .901, LIN-Jacob Mucitelli .874

Shutouts: FGO-Ryan Bischel 2, LIN-Jacob Mucitelli 1

MIN: FGO-Ryan Bischel 2360, LIN-Jacob Mucitelli 851

What to Watch For: :

Jacob Mucitelli Gets the Start:

Jacob Mucitelli has received more playing time of late and will receive the nod in net tonight. The first-year netminder will look to continue his solid stretch of play against Fargo. A last minute goal allowed against the Force Sunday doesn't convey how well Mucitelli played. The Clarkson commit stopped 21 of 23 before he was pulled for the extra attacker. Following an empty net goal from Hank Crone, Mucitelli returned. Crone struck again with the game already in hand in the final minute of play, miring an otherwise strong performance from the crease.

Kesselring a Catalyst:

Fargo defenseman Michael Kesselring was traded from Des Moines to the Force earlier this season. After norching three assists in two games against the Stars last weekend, Kesselring now has seven assists in seven games against Lincoln this year.

Schlaht playing with grit:

Wyatt Schlaht scored the lone goal in the Stars second game against Fargo last Sunday. He also possesses the Stars last game-winning goal, coming at the end of January. Schlaht dropped the gloves last night in an effort to get his team going in the third. In the midst of the Stars recent struggle, Schlaht has maintained an edge in his play.

"I think playing Fargo (last weekend) left kind of sour taste in our mouth," said Schlaht. "We'll want to play a physical game against them and come out with the win. We have to be up for that game. I think it's really important with what the coaches are saying. They've stressed culture and they'v stressed hard work, doing the right things on and off the ice. It's just about doing things right and being hard to play against and getting shots on."

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