Stars Fall in Shootout to Force
February 23, 2019 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Lincoln Stars News Release
Lincoln, NE - For the the third time in the last four games, the Lincoln Stars took on the Fargo Force.
With both teams coming off losses the night before, a physical tone was set immediately. Marshall Walker dropped the gloves with Fargo's Zach Faremouth just 2:11 into play as each party exchanged crosses in an even bout that got both benches jumping. The remainder of the period saw each side trade an equal number of hits, rushes, offensive zone shifts, and shots on net. At the end of 20 minutes, both Jacob Mucitelli and Ryan Bischel were a perfect 9-for-9 in net, completing a scoreless first period.
Fargo took the early initiative in the second. Just 31 seconds in, Jeremy Davidson squeaked a puck through the pads of Mucitelli for the 1-0 lead. The Force dictated the better portion of the first half of the frame, again being rewarded at 10:03, when Ondrej Pavel raced free for a breakaway. In the first, Mucitelli stopped him in the same situation, this time the Czech forward would not be denied, rocketing a shot through for the 2-0 lead. The second half of the frame saw the Stars seize back momentum. Less than a minute after Pavel's goal, Josh Lopina sprung Brock Bremer and Matt Barbolini on a 2-on-1, resulting in Bremer pitching a great pass across to Barbolini for the deflection goal. Following a pick up in offensive pressure, the Stars tied the game when Logan Britt skated coast-to-coast, ripping a puck past Bischel for his fifth marker of the year.
In the final frame, Lincoln would apply heavy pressure in the opening half of the period, including a dominant power play that did everything but find the back of the net. Bischel stood tall, keeping the score locked at two. The Force pushed back as the period wore on, but couldn't find the twine behind Mucitelli. Regulation and overtime would not prove enough time to provide a winner. In the shootout, Mucitelli stopped shots in the first and third round from AJ Drobot and Hank Crone. Ben Meyers' second-round goal would prove to be the winner, after Ryan Bischel stopped all three Stars he faced. In the loss, Mucitelli stopped 26 of 28, while Bischel went 24 of 26.
Lincoln will return home next Saturday, March 2nd, at 7:05 PM CST to meet the Lancers for the second-straight night following a road contest on Friday, March 1st at 7:35 PM CST. Please note that Family Night is no longer March 2nd, but March 30th against Fargo. A full promo schedule for the remaining games this season can be found here.
Enjoy All You Can Eat Hockey at single home 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 February 23, 2019
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- Preview - Force at Stars - Lincoln Stars
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