USHL Lincoln Stars

Slow Start Plagues Stars in Omaha

Published on April 17, 2021 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Lincoln Stars News Release


RALSTON, Neb. - The Lincoln Stars (19-27-4) went down late in the first period and the Omaha Lancers (28-20-3) never looked back, beating Lincoln 7-3 at Ralston Arena on Friday night.

Lincoln had the better of the play in the early going but was unable to beat Jakub Dobes, despite their fair share of opportunities. Omaha took a too many men on the ice penalty in the first half of the first period, but the Stars couldn't take advantage.

The Lancers would get on the board at even strength following a deflection by Nolan Renwick that solved Ryan Ouellette at 15:17. Renwick's goal was reviewed for a high-stick, but the goal held up.

Daimon Gardner notched his first USHL goal at 16:39 after a mad scramble at Lincoln's net, increasing Omaha's lead to two. Gardner fished the puck off the back of Ouellette and whacked it into the net following Kyle Bettens' rebound that rang off the crossbar.

Heading into the second period, the Stars were behind 2-0 and were outshot 16-9. Lincoln failed to convert on two power plays.

The visitors killed off a penalty early in the middle frame assessed to Yu Sato, shifting momentum back to Lincoln's side. As Sato left the box, he picked off a pass in the defensive zone and drove to the attacking zone, drawing three Omaha players to him. Sato spun a pass to the far side circle, where Stanley Cooley was there to one-time the puck past Dobes for his seventh goal of the season. Cooley's tally came at 4:20.

Michael Posma notched a power-play marker at 12:16, restoring Omaha's two-goal lead.

‚¬â€¹Jake Beaune got the Stars within one again following a terrific give-and-go with Dominic James at 16:10. James Stefan fed the puck to the point, where Beaune fed it to James at the near circle before moving to the slot. James gave it right back to the Robert Morris commit, who fired home his eighth goal in 2020-21.

Within two minutes, the effort was extinguished as Posma picked up his second of the period at 17:43. After 40 minutes, the Stars remained down by a pair, despite outshooting Omaha 11-8 in the second.

The Lancers cruised in the third period, picking up early goals from former Star Zach Dubinsky (4:15) and Hunter McDonald (6:17). Aidan Thompson became the fifth Stars player to score double-digit goals this season as he secured his 10th at 16:02 on a late Lincoln power play. Nikolai Mayorov and Noah Laba came away with the assists.

Posma capped off the game with the hat trick at 17:51. Lincoln was 1-for-8 on the power play and 6-for-8 on the penalty kill. Ouellette made 23 saves while Dobes denied 25. ‚¬â€¹

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The Stars are back at the Ice Box for Pucks-and-Paws Night tomorrow, presented by Nebraska Lottery and The Canine Scrub! Sign your dog in at lincolnstars.com/pucksandpaws2021 so you can skip the line before Lincoln battles with Sioux Falls!

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United States Hockey League Stories from April 17, 2021


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