Stars Fight, But Fall in Shootout to Muskegon
Published on March 23, 2019 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Lincoln Stars News Release
Muskegon, MI - On Saturday, the Stars capped another season series with a trip east to take on the Muskegon Lumberjacks.
A spirited first saw teams trade zones and chances with frequency, but without a goal. Brandon Bussi and Jacob Mucitelli each stopped a handful of quality chances in an evenly played first. Lincoln's line of Arlo Merritt, Tristan Ashbrook, and Caleb Rule was an energizer for the Stars cause, as the trio combined to create four high quality chances. Bussi stopped each offering to keep the game knotted at 0.
In the second, the pace of play resembled the first, with the Stars skating evenly with the Lumberjacks in a fast-paced period. Lincoln again mounted a host of quality chances and again were turned away by Bussi. The first score of the contest didn't come until 12:36 of the middle period when Cam Knuble took Alex Gaffney's lead pass and fired a wrister through Jacob Mucitelli for the 1-0 lead. The Stars responded immediately with two more grade-A looks off the stick of Caleb Rule, but Bussi kept them at bay.
Lincoln began the third on the power play after Tristan Ashbrook drew a checking from behind penalty at the expiration of the second. Ashbrook promptly scored on the opportunity, 22 seconds into the third, after he was set up on a great deke and pass from Michael Colella with the secondary credited to Steven Agriogianis. A minute and a half later, the Stars turned over the puck in their own end, allowing Cam McDonald to feed Egor Afanasyev for his 24th tally of the year. Lincoln's counter punch came two minutes later, after Agriogianis led Josh Bohlin to the net, producing a rebound that Grant Johnson deposited behind Bussi to even the score once more. At 9:39 Brock Bremer scored during a stretch of four-on-four, beating Bussi and his former team for Lincoln's first lead of the night. Declan Carlile returned the favor scoring his first goal with Muskegon against his former team to knot the game at three. There the score would remain, not only through the remaindr of regulation but the entirety of overtime, as each side answered grade-A chances with grade-A saves. In the shootout, Bussi stopped Brock Bremer, Charlie Schoen, and Hunter Skinner. Mucitelli answered by stoning Danil Gushchin and Alex Yakovenko, but in round three, Egor Afanasyev beat him on a forehand-backhand move to secure the win for Muskegon.
The Stars are back at it tomorrow when they play the Chicago Steel at 3:05 pm CDT. Lincoln will return home on Saturday, March 30th against the Fargo Force at 7:05 pm CDT for Family Night, sponsored by Sportclips. A family of four can purchase four tickets for $60 and receive four hot dogs, four bags of chips, four fountain drinks, four packs of Top Prospects Game Trading Cards, and one Sportclips coupon*. Together a value of up to $228 can be had for just $60! Each additional ticket costs $15 and receives one of each item. Family packs require a minimum of four tickets purchased. Click here to order your pack today!
The Stars are also hosting a coat toss for A Warmer Day as a part of Family Night! Bring a coat and any outer wear to Saturday's game and toss it onto the ice during 1st first intermission to help those in need across the state of Nebraska! Additional items will be available purchase and donation at the Ice Box!
A full promo schedule for the remaining Stars home 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!
*Sportclips coupon good for one free MVP haircut for new customers, $7 off for returning patrons.
United States Hockey League Stories from March 23, 2019
- Storm Tie Team Record for Regular Season Wins in 4-2 Defeat of Dubuque - Tri-City Storm
- RoughRiders Win on Buzzer Beater - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Musketeers Can't Find an Answer in Sioux Falls - Sioux City Musketeers
- Dubuque Can't Complete Comeback, Fall 4-2 to Tri-City - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Muskegon Trims Magic Number to Clinch East to 7 with Shootout Win over Lincoln - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Flying Aces Downed by 90 Seconds in the First - Central Illinois Flying Aces
- Stampede Stomp Musketeers 5-3 - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Stars Fight, But Fall in Shootout to Muskegon - Lincoln Stars
- Gameday Preview: Tri-City Battles Dubuque for Final Time this Season - Tri-City Storm
- Preview: Stars at Lumberjacks - Lincoln Stars
- Storm Defeat Dubuque 4-3 in Overtime - Tri-City Storm
- Sioux City Picks Up Big Two Points Against Lancers - Sioux City Musketeers
- Flying Aces Quick Start Isn't Enough against the Force - Central Illinois Flying Aces
- A Netful in Overtime - Waterloo Black Hawks
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