Stars Fight Down to the Wire, Fall Just Short in Omaha
Published on March 1, 2019 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Lincoln Stars News Release
Omaha, NE - The Stars met their arch rivals for the sixth time in 2018-19 Friday night as they took on the Lancers at Ralston Arena.
The Stars kicked off the first with solid pace, driving play for the first two minutes, but the Lancers were held steady by stellar netminder Akira Schmid. Play was even for much of the first, but the Stars were bested at 13:17, when Rhett Pitlick scored in his Omaha debut, tipping a Jaxon Nelson shot past Samuel Hlavaj for the 1-0 lead. Blais Richartz was credited the secondary helper on the lone tally of the first period.
In the second, Omaha added to its lead. After the Stars fell to 0-for-3 on the power play, the Lancers capitalized with a tally on their first. Shortly before the 9:00 marker, Grant Anderson hopped on a rebound a screened Samuel Hlavaj couldn't see, allowing the Omaha defenseman to pot his sixth goal of the season. Lincoln would fight back following a surge from Matthew Barbolini. The Williamsville, NY native crashed down the left wing and deked his way behind the last Omaha defender and past goalie Akira Schmid for his second goal in as many games. At the end of 40 minutes, Lincoln trailed only by one.
The third resembled much of the first 40 minutes. Stretches of solid play for both sides, but in the end it was the goaltending that prevailed in the third. Samuel Hlavaj stopped all 13 shots he faced, but so too did Akira Schmid, erasing nine of nine. Despite pushing well for the final 2:16 of play with the extra attacker on, the Stars fell 2-1 at the horn. Samuel Hlavaj was strong in the loss, stopping 27 of 29, while Schmid made 24 saves the 25 pucks sent on cage.
Lincoln will return home tomorrow, March 2nd, at 7:05 PM CST for a rematch with the Lancers. HURRY and buy the final tickets here as only a few seats remain available! 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 March 1, 2019
- Stampede Roll over Tri-City for 9th Straight Home Win - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Hawks Blunt Fargo's Force - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Storm Drop Road Game to Stampede 4-1 - Tri-City Storm
- Sioux City Loses Hard-Fought Battle to Team USA - Sioux City Musketeers
- Stars Fight Down to the Wire, Fall Just Short in Omaha - Lincoln Stars
- Gaber's Three Point Night Leads Dubuque over Chicago, 5-3, in First Meeting of the Season - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Central Illinois Rallies to Defeat Cedar Rapids, 3 to 2 - Central Illinois Flying Aces
- Dubuque Erases Two-Goal Deficit in 5-3 Win over Chicago - Chicago Steel
- Saints Begin Winning Edge Promotion with American Trust - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Preview - Stars at Lancers - Lincoln Stars
- Weekend Primer: Saints Square off with Steel for First Meeting this Season - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Gameday Preview: Storm Seek to Clinch Playoff Spot Tonight in Sioux Falls - Tri-City Storm
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