Preview - Stars vs Stampede
Published on November 16, 2018 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Lincoln Stars News Release
FRIDAY, NOV. 16, 2018 | 7:05 P.M. | ICE BOX
RADIO: LINCOLN STARS RADIO | WATCH: HOCKEYTV
Tonight's Contest:
For the second-straight Friday, the Stars (5-6-2-1) and Stampede (6-5-1-1) will meet at the Ice Box to battle for rank in the western conference.
Last Game:
Each team shared a common opponent in the Tri-City Storm in their last contest.
The Stars topped the Storm at home last Sunday with a 3-0 shutout win. Propelled by a monstrous afternoon from their top line led by Shane Pinto (2-1-3), the Stars capitalized when the Tri-City couldn't. Standing in their way was a stellar Jake Mucitelli, who stopped 27 shots on his way to his first USHL shutout.
At the Viaero Center, the Stampede had less luck on Saturday. Defense was the story for much of the contest, as Tri-City and Sioux Falls combined for just 37 totals shots on goal. The first score of the night came in the second period from Anthony Romano, giving Sioux Falls a 1-0 lead that held through the first 40 minutes of play. Early in the third, Keaton Pehrson scored the game-tying goal, kicking off a stretch of three-straight scores for the Storm. Ian Murphy and Ronnie Attard added markers in the first 12:26 to build a 3-1 lead for Tri-City. Romano struck again to bring the Stampede back within one, but the late push would come up just short. At 19:48, Ian Murphy fired a puck into the empty net to finalize a 4-2 Storm win.
Head-to-Head:
As was the case often last season, Lincoln and Sioux Falls met in yet another high-drama affair. At the Ice Box last week, Samuel Stevens scored the first goal, mid-way through the first period to give the Stampede a 1-0 lead. It would be their only tally of the night. Tristan Ashbrook would knot the game at one at 12:46 into the second: his first goal in his first game of 2018-19. Heading into the third, the game boiled down into a goalie showdown between Jake Muctielli and Jaxson Stauber. The pair turned away 12 and 9 shots respectively heading into the game's final minute. On a late power play, the Stars found their answer as Declan Carlile ripped a shot past Stauber with 22 seconds left in regulation. Mucitelli stood tall on a last-second push from the Stampede to secure the 33-save victory.
By the Numbers:
GF: SF-2.92 (13th) to LIN-2.79 (16th)
GA: LIN-3.29 (7th) to SF-3.62 (12th)
PP: SF-10 for 57, 17.5% (12th) to LIN-9 for 56, 16.1% (15th)
PK: LIN-48 for 55, 87.5% (1st) to SF-38 for 53, 71.7 (17th)
What to Watch For:
A tale of two trends:
Just one point separates tonight's competitors in the Western Conference standings, but the teams have been heading in opposite directions of late. The Stampede enter play on a five-game losing streak, with the first loss of that stretch coming in overtime. The Stars have won two of their last three while recording a point or better in four of their last five. The biggest difference? Defense. Over their past five games, the Stars have allowed just 2.40 goals per game, while the Stampede have surrendered 3.80. The biggest similarity? Offense, and the lack thereof. Lincoln matches their impressive goals against with just 12 goals scored over their last five contests. Sioux Falls has mustered just eight tallies in the same span.
Power Outage:
The Stampede and Stars enter tonight as the 7th and 8th-ranked power plays in the West. Lincoln's picked up a bit of steam of late, scoring three goals in their last 15 trips (20%). The Stampede are 0-for their last 21 tries on the man-advantage. If the answer is to come tonight for Sioux Falls it could very well come from Cade Borchardt, who leads the team with two goals and three assists on the power play this season.
The Moose is Loose:
Should he get the nod for what would be his fifth consecutive start tonight, Jake Mucitelli will have earned it. Should he get a rest, he'll have earned that as well. As the ink dries on his letter of intent to Clarkson University, the Stars goalie has been stellar of late, earning the most-recent USHL goaltender of the week award. His numbers over the last four games: 2-1-0-1, 241:02, 2.24 GAA, .924%.
Puck drop for tonight's contest with the Stampede will take place at 7:05 pm. Call the Stars Box Office at (402)-474 7827, or order tickets online! 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!
United States Hockey League Stories from November 16, 2018
- Stampede Rally to Top Stars in OT - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Steel Drop Capitols in Overtime, 4-3 - Chicago Steel
- Fargo Topples Dubuque 4-2 with Two in the Third - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Late Goal Pushes Phantoms to Victory - Youngstown Phantoms
- Storm Stingy at Young Arena - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Stars Let Late Lead Slip Away in OT Loss to Stampede - Lincoln Stars
- Central Illinois Falls to Youngstown After Late Third Period Tally - Central Illinois Flying Aces
- Trevor Janicke and Cal Kiefiuk Named to Team USA Roster - Central Illinois Flying Aces
- 3 RoughRiders to Compete in World Junior a Challenge - Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
- Capitols Host Steel Friday - Madison Capitols
- Phantoms Gear up for Thanksgiving Weekend Series - Youngstown Phantoms
- Johnson Named to U.S. Junior Select Team - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Shane Pinto Named to U.S. Junior Select Team - Lincoln Stars
- Saints Set for Two at Home - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Nodler and O'Reilly Named to Team USA Roster for World Junior A Challenge - Fargo Force
- Mastrosimone Named to World Junior A Roster - Chicago Steel
- Preview - Stars vs Stampede - Lincoln Stars
- USHL Players to Compete in 2018 World Junior a Challenge - USHL
- Hawks Celebrate Another Alumni Call-Up - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Black Hawks Remember Pearl Harbor - Waterloo Black Hawks
- United States Hockey League Team to Take Ice with Helmets Painted by Local Amatuer Artists to Raise Money for Young Cancer Patients - Chicago Steel
- Gamblers Announce Roster Moves - Green Bay Gamblers
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