Stars Get Revenge against Musketeers, Win 3-2
April 3, 2021 - United States Hockey League (USHL) - Lincoln Stars News Release
LINCOLN, Neb. - The Lincoln Stars (17-27-4) scored three unanswered goals, coming from behind for a 3-2 victory over the Sioux City Musketeers (25-21-1) on Saturday night at the Ice Box.
Lincoln came out with a solid attack, but couldn't force one by Alex Tracy in the early going. Chase Bradley drew first blood for the visitors, scoring his team-leading sixth power-play goal at 9:30.
Bradley would cash in shorthanded at 17:02, making it a 2-0 lead. After 20 minutes, the Stars were down by a pair despite firing 11 shots on goal in the opening frame.
Stanley Cooley got the Stars going at 2:29, deflecting a shot from Nick Nardecchia past the short side of Alex Tracy. Cooley's goal was his fifth of the season; Clay Hanus snagged the secondary assist.
Hanus tied the game at 7:06 with a seeing-eye wrist shot from the top of the right point that rang the crossbar. The goal was created from great cycling in the offensive zone from the Cooley line, before Jake Beaune played it back for Hanus. Nardecchia also picked up an assist on Hanus' fifth in 2020-21.
Lincoln was awarded a major power play after Ethan Edwards boarded Jack O'Leary, but the Stars came up empty on the non-releasable, five-minute sequence. After 40 minutes, the game was tied at two, with Lincoln controlling the shots 21-17.
Sioux City fell into penalty trouble early in the third period, taking two consecutive minors, putting the Stars on a 5-on-3. Noah Laba came through the frustrated power-play group, potting his seventh of the year from the net-front. Nikolai Mayorov had the initial shot that created the rebound while James Stefan fed the puck to Mayorov at the right circle.
With Lincoln in the lead, the Musketeers came with a push, but were kept at bay at 5-on-5 as well a late power play. Ryan Ouellette stood tall until the final buzzer, making 23 saves for his fourth consecutive victory.
The Stars were 1-for-7 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill.
Lincoln now has points in seven straight games (5-0-2); they've also won four straight at the Ice Box. Tonight's win marks only the second time (2-19-1) the Stars have won a game when trailing after 20 minutes.
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The Stars will be at home once again on Wednesday night, taking on the Des Moines Buccaneers at 7:05 p.m.!
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United States Hockey League Stories from April 3, 2021
- Lancers Sweep Force in Weekend Series, 4-3 Final - Omaha Lancers
- Storm Sweep Stampede for Sixth Straight Win - Tri-City Storm
- Stars Get Revenge against Musketeers, Win 3-2 - Lincoln Stars
- Des Moines Tops Hawks, 4-0 - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Steel's Offensive Prowess Overshadows Saints - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Steel Beat Dubuque 7-2 to Clinch Playoff Berth - Chicago Steel
- Steel First USHL Team to Clinch Playoff Berth - Chicago Steel
- Storm Set to Battle Stampede for Final Time this Season - Tri-City Storm
- Lumberjacks Head Coach Signs Contract Extension - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Lancers Blank Force, 4-0 - Omaha Lancers
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