USHL Lincoln Stars

Shorthanded Stars Pick up Point in Omaha

February 7, 2022 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Lincoln Stars News Release


OMAHA, NE - The Lincoln Stars (20-12-2-2) rallied for a point, but lost 4-3 in a shootout to the Omaha Lancers (20-11-3-2) on Sunday afternoon at Liberty First Credit Union Arena.

Riley Rosenthal drew first blood for the Lancers 10:42 into the opening period, scoring his first career goal in his 70th USHL appearance. Rosenthal's shot from the right circle would be the lone goal in the first stanza as the Stars outshot Omaha 7-6.

Cade Ahrenholz added to Omaha's lead 1:19 into the second period after a cross-crease pass from Michael Cameron.

Mason Marcellus gave the Stars some life at 6:30, firing a power-play shot by the right arm of Omaha goaltender Thomas Heaney.

Gleb Veremyev provided the screen while Carter Schade and Antonio Fernandez picked up the assists. Marcellus recorded four points (two goals, two assists) over the weekend.

Garrett Wright extinguished the visitors' momentum with a shot from the slot under three minutes later, restoring Omaha's two-goal cushion.

After two periods, the Stars trailed 3-1 and were outshot 16-14.

Lincoln found another gear early in the third period, controlling the game in Omaha's end for the opening six-plus minutes.

Lincoln's power play would come through again as Fernandez went low-blocker on Heaney for his seventh goal of the year at 6:56. Schade and Marcellus were given the apples.

Late in the third period, with Cameron Whitehead pulled for a sixth attacker, Dalton Norris tied the game with a one-timer at 18:14. Five of the Stars' six players on the ice touched the puck leading to Norris' team-leading 15th goal of the season.

Whitehead would rob Chris Hedden in the final seconds of regulation on a 2-on-1 for the Lancers, sending the game to overtime.

Both teams had brief odd-man rushes in the extra session, but the game would need a shootout for a clear victor.

Lincoln's first four shooters failed to score on Heaney and Tomas Trunda lit the lamp in the bottom of the fourth round to secure the extra point for Omaha.

Whitehead made several eye-popping saves, keeping the Stars in the game from the second period on. He turned aside 25 shots in the shootout loss. Heaney made 28 saves for his fifth win of the year.

The Stars were down to nine forwards after regulation due to an injury to Griffin Jurecki. Noah Laba and Doug Grimes did not play Sunday due to suspension.

Lincoln went 2-0-0-1 in their three-game weekend. They are currently tied with Sioux City in points (44), trailing Omaha by one for second place in the Western Conference.

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