Stars Move Back into Sole Possession of Sixth
April 5, 2024 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Lincoln Stars News Release
Blake Montgomery recorded his team-leading fifth multi-goal game of the season and the Lincoln Stars defeated the Sioux City Musketeers, 6-3, on Friday night at the Ice Box.
Montgomery cashed in on a pair of breakaways in the second period to snap a seven-game scoreless streak and give the Stars their third consecutive win. The victory also put Lincoln (26-28-3-2) back in sole possession of sixth place and the final playoff spot in the Western Conference thanks to Des Moines's 3-1 loss to Fargo.
"Those two goals were big for us, head coach Rocky Russo said. "I'm so proud of Blake for fighting through some bad luck. He hasn't been finishing and he's been getting chances and I've just be telling him 'you've gotta keep playing the right way. You've gotta keep finishing your routes on the forecheck. You've gotta defend all the way to our goal line. You've gotta keep winning those puck battles on the half wall. All those little things that are going to make you a great player long term are what we focus on when the puck isn't going into the net. Eventually, when you do things right, it's gonna turn in your favor."
The Stars never trailed Friday night and scored twice in each period to score six goals in a game for the first time since a 7-2 win vs. Omaha Feb. 3. Layne Loomer, Justin Mexico and Jared Mangan all recorded a goal and an assist apiece.
Mangan got the scoring started with a one-timer from the left point off a pass by Adam Kleber from behind the net for his 21st goal of the season at the 4:33 mark of the first. Kleber's assist marked his sixth in the last nine games and his 25 points are tied for the team lead among defensemen. He and Martin Masa both finished a team-best +4.
Loomer got the secondary assist on that goal and then picked up his second point of the night at the 13:15 mark of the opening frame. He flicked Mangan's cross-ice pass through the five hole of goaltender Samuel Urban to double up the lead. Mangan's assist on the play gave him his 10th multi-point game of the season and the 16th of his Stars career.
Sioux City got a big response just 1:10 later when Kaden Shahan fired a shot from the right circle that was initially denied but trickled just over the line. That marked his 38th goal of the season, tied for second-most in the USHL.
Brian Nicholas tied the game up 4:16 into the second with a power-play goal. He nearly guided in Shahan's direct pass from the left point near-post side but pushed his own rebound around the post to even the game up.
Montgomery gave the Stars the lead and then some breathing room in the second period with breakaway tallies at the 7:53 and 11:43 marks. Tate Pritchard slipped and coughed up the puck and Montgomery took it the distance on the first goal and then he settled a bouncing puck and slipped behind the defense alone in a narrow space for the second tally.
Mexico added to the Lincoln lead with a shorthanded goal at the 2:40 mark of the third. He helped force a turnover in the defensive zone and then charged the other with Loomer, kept the puck and fired it past Urban. Mexico's tally was the Stars' first shorthanded goal since Keaton Peters tallied on Dec. 8 against Fargo.
"Pass first on two-on-ones is the rule here," Mexico said, "but if he's taking that away then you can't really deny the lane to the net there. You gotta take what's given and that's what I did there."
Colin Kessler brought Sioux City within two goals with a goal at the 8:15 mark but Matthew Maltais added an empty-net goal with 1:03 to go to seal the victory.
Yan Shostak, the reigning USHL Goaltender Of The Week, stopped 29 shots to earn his third consecutive win and fourth in his last five starts.
Lincoln plays Omaha on Saturday for the ninth and final time of the regular season. The two teams have split the first eight games and the puck drops at 6:05 at the Ice Box on Billet Appreciation Night. Tickets are available at lincolnstars.com.
United States Hockey League Stories from April 5, 2024
- Stars Move Back into Sole Possession of Sixth - Lincoln Stars
- Jacks Close Regular Season Home Schedule with 5-3 Loss to NTDP Under-18 Team - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Steel Clinch Playoff Berth with Shootout Victory - Chicago Steel
- Saints Drop Shootout to Steel to Open Weekend - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Stampede Holds Out Through The Storm - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Hawks Back on the Doorstep - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Phantoms Top Green Bay 4-2 - Youngstown Phantoms
- Saints Drop Shootout in Chicago on Friday - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Lancers Knocked by Waterloo on the Road - Omaha Lancers
- Storm Set for Home Series against Stampede - Tri-City Storm
- Fighting Five: Saints Start Weekend with Final Trip to Chicago - Dubuque Fighting Saints
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