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Preview - Stars vs Buccaneers

January 11, 2019 - United States Hockey League (USHL) - Lincoln Stars News Release


FRIDAY, JAN. 11, 2019 | 7:05 P.M. | ICE BOX

RADIO: LINCOLN STARS RADIO | WATCH: HOCKEYTV

Tonight's Contest:

The Stars (8-18-3-1) will host the Des Moines Buccaneers (21-10-1-2) for the teams' seventh meeting of the year.

Last Game:

The Stars kicked off a three-game in three day stretch with their sixth meeting against Des Moines on the year last night.Lincoln came out swinging in the first, out-shooting the Bucs 15-7. New goalie Samuel Hlavaj was strong, stopping seven shots and forcing one wide on a breakaway. The Stars buzzed throughout the frame, but despite the shot advantage and two power plays, they were unable to put a puck past Roman Durny. The Bucs awoke in the middle frame, scoring two goals in the first half of the period. The first came on a power play blast from Lev Starikov that was tipped in front by Michael Mancinelli at 2:22. The second came on a breakdown in front that allowed Mac Welsher to walk in a rip a puck through Hlavaj. The Stars finally answered when Steven Agriogianis found Caleb Rule on a slick cross-ice feed that Rule deposited for his 10th tally of the season. Tristan Ashbrook would collect a secondary assist, extending his point-streak to four games. Des Moines would get the goal back before the end of the period, when Sam Renlund notched his ninth goal of the year at 19:42. In the final frame, the Stars would push play well, but Durny would prove hard to solve a second time. After 14:29 ticked off the clock, Matt Brown would find an open Reed Lebster for a sharp shot and score. The 4-1 lead lasted only 35 seconds as Shane Pinto came back with a coast-to-coast goal to cut the deficit back to two. Pinto's score extended his point streak to 12 games. Through a slew of penalties in the final minutes, Roman Durny being ejected, and the extra attacker on, the Stars could not find the twine, seeing the scoreboard stuck at 4-2 at the horn.

Head-to-Head:

The Bucs hold a 5-1 series lead against the Stars this season. Lincoln has dropped five-straight games against the Buccaneers. The Bucs have scored 19 goals to the Stars 13. Both teams have scored three goals on the power play. The leading scorer in the series is Des Moines' TJ Walsh, with four goals and two assists in five of a possible six games. Shane Pinto leads the series for the Stars with three goals and two assists in four games. Roman Durny dominates the crease with a 5-0 record against Lincoln, a 1.81 GAA, and a .933 save percentage.

By the Numbers:

GF: DM-3.56 (5th) to LIN-2.73 (15th)

GA: DM-2.88 (3rd) to LIN-3.70 (t-13th)

PP: DM-23 for 120, 19.2% (10) to LIN-18 for 124, 14.5% (16th)

PK: LIN-100 for 123, 81.3% (4th) to DM-106 for 181, 80.9% (7th)

SHGF: DM-6 (3rd) to LIN-1 (t-14th)

SHGA: DM-1 (1st) to LIN-6 (t-15th)

What to Watch For:

Stepping Up:

The Stars have been searching for more scoring, and they may have found it in the line combination of Steven Agriogianis, Tristan Ashbrook, and Caleb Rule. Ashbrook's secondary assist on Rule's goal last night has his point streak up to four games. In that span he's recorded two goals and two assists. Agriogianis each have two-game streaks, with the former recording two assists, and the latter two goals and one helper in the same span.

First Impressions:

Four players made debuts last night. Stars new Slovak netminder Samuel Hlavaj made several impressive saves, thwarting two breakaways and robbing a mid-second period shot with his glove. In a group of three new Des Moines arrivals, Michael Mancinelli was the lone skater with prior USHL experience. He picked up a goal in the second period last night off another new player-defenseman Lev Starikov's power play slapshot from the point. Milos Fafrak, another Slovak making his USHL debut, tallied an assist on the next Des Moines score in the middle period.

Clutch Factor:

Sam Renlund provided the Bucs their game-winning goal last night. It's the third time in his team's last five wins he's accomplished the feat, and his fourth GWG on the season. Renlund has four goals and one assist in his last six games. On the opposite end, Josiah Slavin leads Lincoln with three game-winners for the Stars this season. His first of the year came against the Buccaneers back on October 6th.

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Order tickets for tonight's game online!

Later in the month, Faith & Family Day returns to The Ice Box for another matinee for an afternoon of faith and community as well as a post-game skate with the Stars. A portion of ticket sales for Faith & Family Day will benefit Food for the Hungry, a faith-based mission to build clean water solutions in third-world countries. Last year, the Stars and the Lincoln Stars Foundation helped to raise over $230,000 toward clean water initiatives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Enjoy All You Can Eat Hockey at single games by purchasing a group of five or more, or grab one of our multi-game memberships to secure the same seat each game. Parking is completely FREE this season!


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