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USHL Lincoln Stars

Preview - Stars at Lancers

March 2, 2019 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Lincoln Stars News Release


SATURDAY, MAR. 2, 2019 | 7:05 P.M. CST | ICE BOX

RADIO: LINCOLN STARS RADIO | WATCH: HOCKEYTV

Tonight's Contest:

The Stars (10-32-3-3) return home to the Ice Box to take on the Omaha Lancers (19-21-4-4) for the second-straight night. The Lancers enter play just three points out of a playoff spot after last night's win, and Sioux City's loss.

Last Game:

The Stars met their arch rivals for the sixth time in 2018-19 Friday night as they took on the Lancers at Ralston Arena.

The Stars kicked off the first with solid pace, driving play for the first two minutes, but the Lancers were held steady by stellar netminder Akira Schmid. Play was even for much of the first, but the Stars were bested at 13:17, when Rhett Pitlick scored in his Omaha debut, tipping a Jaxon Nelson shot past Samuel Hlavaj for the 1-0 lead. Blais Richartz was credited the secondary helper on the lone tally of the first period.

In the second, Omaha added to its lead. After the Stars fell to 0-for-3 on the power play, the Lancers capitalized with a tally on their first. Shortly before the 9:00 marker, Grant Anderson hopped on a rebound a screened Samuel Hlavaj couldn't see, allowing the Omaha defenseman to pot his sixth goal of the season. Lincoln would fight back following a surge from Matthew Barbolini. The Williamsville, NY native crashed down the left wing and deked his way behind the last Omaha defender and past goalie Akira Schmid for his second goal in as many games. At the end of 40 minutes, Lincoln trailed only by one.

The third resembled much of the first 40 minutes. Stretches of solid play for both sides, but in the end it was the goaltending that prevailed in the third. Samuel Hlavaj stopped all 13 shots he faced, but so too did Akira Schmid, erasing nine of nine. Despite pushing well for the final 2:16 of play with the extra attacker on, the Stars fell 2-1 at the horn. Samuel Hlavaj was strong in the loss, stopping 27 of 29, while Schmid made 24 saves the 25 pucks sent on cage.

The Lancers are in the midst of a three-game weekend having come off a road trip to Des Moines last night. In a season series in which the Lancers had won four straight, the Buccaneers struck back with a decisive 4-0 win. A scoreless first saw Des Moines out-pace the Lancers 13-7 in shots, but Akira Schmid and James Durham were each perfect in net. In the second, Des Moines took a lead it would never surrender when Reed Lebster notched his 21st tally of the season off an assist from Milos Fafrak. Rylee St. Onge tacked on his 19th on a power play just prior to the 15:00 mark of the frame to bolster the Bucs advantage. In the third, Lebster would strike again at 13:28, prompting the Lancers to pull their netminder with just over five minutes to play while on a power play. Undaunted, the Buccaneers would put the game to bed with a shorthanded, empty-net goal from Scooter Brickey, finalizing a 4-0 win.

Head-to-Head:

After last night's meeting the Lancers hold a series lead of 5 to 1.

GF: OMA-2.52 (15th) to LIN-2.50 (16th)

GA: OMA-3.27 (9th) to LIN-3.94 (16th)

Shots For/G: OMA-28.06 (12th) to LIN-27.73 (13th)

Shots Against/G: OMA-29.75 (12th) to LIN-31.06 (14th)

PP: OMA-29/144, 20.1% (9th) to LIN-26/186, 14.0% (16th)

SHGA: OMA-6 (t-10th) to LIN-9 (16th)

PK: LIN-149/184, 81.0% (7th) to OMA-126/157, 80.3% (t-8th)

SHGF: LIN-2 (t-14th) to OMA-2 (t-14th)

Leading Scorers:

G: LIN-Brock Bremer and Caleb Rule 12, OMA-Jaxon Nelson 11

A: OMA-Travis Mitchell 19, LIN-Brock Bremer 15

TP: OMA-Jaxon Nelson 28 to LIN-Brock Bremer 27

Goalies:

W: OMA-Akira Schmid 9, LIN-Jacob Mucitelli 3

GAA: OMA-Akira Schmid 2.16, LIN-Jacob Mucitelli 3.60

SV%: OMA-Akira Schmid .924, LIN-Jacob Mucitelli .878

Shutouts: OMA-Schmid 1, LIN-Jacob Mucitelli 1

MIN: OMA-Akira Schmid 1277, LIN-Jacob Mucitelli 916

What to Watch For: :

Barbolini Heating Up

Matt Barbolini scored the Stars lone goal last night. He's notched a goal in each of his last two games. Barbolini is second on the Stars in points against Omaha with three, and is tied for second among all scorers in the season series with two goals.

Cracking the Omaha Penalty Kill:

The Lancers allowed one power play goal in the entire month of February and it came on its last day in Omaha's loss to Des Moines Thursday. After their 3-for-3 performance last night, The Lancers penalty kill is 29 for their last 30 since January 27th. The Stars are 5 for 31 (16.1%) against the Lancers on the power play this season.

Defend Home Ice:

A sellout crowd is anticipated at the Ice Box tonight as the Stars look to turn things around in front of their crowd, against their arch rival.

If two comeback wins made by Omaha at the Ice Box this season have taught the Stars anything, it's that no lead should ever be considered safe. They would also do well to set the tone with the game's first goal. The Lancers are 2-1-0-1 when leading after the 1st on the road this season, and 5-0 when leading after 40 minutes. The Stars are 2-2-2-0, and 4-1-1-0 in those same categories at home. In their season head-to-head, Omaha is 3-0 when scoring the game's first goal and has outscored Lincoln 7-5 in the opening stanza. The Stars are tied for the 12th-most goals scored in the first period this season with 36. The Lancers are 15th with 33.

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United States Hockey League Stories from March 2, 2019


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