Preview - Stars vs. Force
March 30, 2019 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Lincoln Stars News Release
The Stars (11-38-3-4) meet the Fargo Force (31-22-2-2).for the final time in the 2018-19 season.
Last Game:
Lincoln:
RECAP
Scoring:
1st:
No Scoring
2nd:
2:06 DM-Jackson Perbix (10) ASST: Mac Welsher (27)
11:00 DM-Reed Lebster (25-GWG) ASST: Michael Mancinelli (16), Isaac Novak (4)
15:27 DM-Patrick Schmiedlin (5) ASST: Sam Renlund (14), Tony Malinowski (5)
18:21 DM-Rylee St. Onge (24) ASST: Jackson Perbix (35), TJ Walsh (29)
3rd:
2:08 DM-Isaac Novak (2) ASST: Lev Starikov (7)
5:15 DM-Mac Welsher (15-PP) ASST: Jack Clement (11), Jackson Perbix (36)
8:04 LIN-Hunter Skinner (5) ASST: Brock Bremer (17), Josh Lopina (14)
PP: LIN (0-5), DM (1-4)
PK: LIN (3-4), DM (5-5)
Goalies:
DM-Roman Durny W (25-19-0-4), 60:00, 25/26, 1 GA
LIN-Jacob Mucitelli L (3-9-0-1), 60:00, 26/32, 6 GA
Fargo:
RECAP
Scoring:
1st:
18:46 FGO-Ethan Frisch (3)
2nd:
10:57 SF-Andre Lee (17) ASST: Blake Bride (16), Sam Stevens (11)
3rd:
10:15 FGO-Ben Meyers (32-SH, GWG) ASST: Hank Crone (46), Justin Lee (21)
18:26 FGO-Hank Crone (17) ASST: Ben Meyers (31)
20:00 FGO-Kaden Bohlsen (10-EN)
PP: SF (0-2), FGO (0-3)
PK: SF (3-3), FGO (2-2)
Goalies:
FGO-Ryan Bischel W (27-19-0-2), 60:00, 24/25, 1 GA
SF-Alec Calvaruso L (17-5-0-0), 58:48, 20/23, 3 GA
Head-to-Head:
After the Stars and Force met three times in seven days back in February, Fargo holds the lead in the season series 3-0. Lincoln has salvaged one point in a shootout loss. The teams last met on February 23rd at the Ice Box. All goals scored in regulation came in the second period, starting with Jeremy Davidson's goal just 31 seconds into the middle frame. The Stars fell down 2-0 after Ondrej Pavel scored unassisted at 10:03. Lincoln countered with Matthew Barbolini notching his sixth of the season off helpers from Brock Bremer and Josh Lopina at 10:54. The Stars tied the game when Logan Britt found the twine at 18:16. Ryan Bischel and Jacob Mucitelli dueled until the end, with both goalies refusing to flinch before the end of overtime. 60 minutes and subsequently 65 minutes would prove too little time to produce a winner. In the shootout, Ben Meyers tallied the only score of the showdown, lifting Fargo to a 3-2 victory.
Team Stats:
GF: FGO-2.96 (12th) to LIN-2.50 (16th)
GA: FGO-2.79 (5th) to LIN-4.14 (17th)
Shots For/G: FGO-28.96 (8th) to LIN-27.18 (16th)
Shots Against/G: FGO-27.12 (6th) to LIN-31.86 (14th)
PP: FGO-38/206, 18.4% (9th) to LIN-32/211, 15.2% (15th)
SHGA: FGO-5 (t-5th) to LIN-9 (15th)
PK: FGO-181/212, 85.4% (2nd) to LIN-172/214, 80.4% (8th)
SHGF: FGO-4 (t-9th) to LIN-2 (t-14th)
Leading Scorers:
G: FGO-Ben Meyers 32 to LIN-Brock Bremer 15
A: FGO-Hank Crone 46 to LIN-Hunter Skinner 17
TP: FGO-Ben Meyers and Hank Crone 63 to LIN-Brock Bremer 32
Goalies:
W: FGO-Ryan Bischel 27 to LIN-Jacob Mucitelli and Samuel Hlavaj 3
GAA: FGO-Ryan Bischel 2.50 to LIN-Jacob Mucitelli 3.79
SV%: FGO-Ryan Bischel .902 to LIN-Jacob Mucitelli .875
Shutouts: FGO-Ryan Bischel 2 to LIN-Jacob Mucitelli 1
MIN: FGO-Ryan Bischel 3022 to LIN-Jacob Mucitelli 1141
What to Watch For:
Samuli Niinisaari Steady on the Blue Line:
Samuli Niinisaari is nearing the end of his junior hockey career, as the '98-born defenseman will be heading to Brown University after the season ends. In the month of March, Niinisaari has scored three goals and six points in nine games. What's more, he's been on the ice for nearly 40% of all goals scored by the Stars this month.
"I feel like I've just been doing what I've been doing all year," said Niinisaari. "Just putting in the hard work and it just feels like I've been able to find a couple of bounces like that second goal against USA. It was just going to the net and getting rewarded there. The other two goals just shooting from the point. It's what I've been doing all year but it just feels like it's been going in now. It feels good."
"Sammy is a true testament to someone who loves going to work every day and loves putting in the work," said Stars head coach Cody Chupp. "Whether it's video or before or after practice, he continues to develop his game. He never does not have a smile on his face which makes it fantastic to be around him. His adjustment to this league didn't go as smooth as he had hoped it would, or maybe thought it might, but he's continued to work. There's been no pout or feeling sorry for himself. He's constantly worked every single day. He wants to be the best at everything that he does and that work throughout the course of the year is culminating in a very good finish for him. The confidence he takes out of his finish will lead him into Brown where I expect him into the lineup and be an impact player right away."
Lee Settling in:
Former Stars defenseman Justin Lee was traded to the Force at the end of January, and after just one assist in February, the talented defender is heating up in March. His stat line includes a game-winning goal against Central Illinois back on March 23rd and six total points on the month. The uptick can partially be attributed to Lee's growing confidence in his cannon of a shot within the Fargo system. Through February, Lee took just 11 shots in nine games. It took him just four games into March to eclipse that total, and has taken 35 through 11 games in the month. Through 57 games this season, Lee has five goals and 26 points.
Ryan Bischel Continues Workhorse Season:
If Ryan Bischel gets the nod tonight for the Force, he'll have made his 14th start in Fargo's last 15 games. The USHL's leader in minutes played, Bischel lost four straight decisions from March 5th to March 16th, but has won his last four, allowing just seven goals and making 117 saves over 245 minutes played against Sioux Falls and Central Illinois.
If Bischel gets a break, former Stars netminder Tyler Johnson would make his third start for Fargo. His first came against Lincoln back in February in which he made 29 saves on 30 shots in the Force's 4-1 win.
United States Hockey League Stories from March 30, 2019
- Storm Slows Down Sioux City - Sioux City Musketeers
- Storm Set Team Record for Regular Season Wins in 5-2 Defeat of Sioux City - Tri-City Storm
- Muskegon Closes in on Clinching East Top Seed with 5-2 Win - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Power Play Percentage Astronomical - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Waterloo Edges Chicago in Barn Burner, 7-5 - Chicago Steel
- Stampede Stomp RoughRiders 5-0 - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Flying Aces Defeated by Lumberjacks, 5 to 2 - Central Illinois Flying Aces
- Third Period Gets Away from Stars as They Fall 6-0 to Fargo - Lincoln Stars
- Durny Helps Des Moines Down Dubuque, 6-0 - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Gameday Preview: Storm Seek Team Wins Record Tonight in Sioux City - Tri-City Storm
- Preview - Stars vs. Force - Lincoln Stars
- Weekend Primer: Des Moines and Central Illinois Come to Dubuque - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Waterloo Black Hawks Sign Matthew Argentina to Tender - USHL
- Hawks Add Argentina for 2019/20 - Waterloo Black Hawks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
