USHL Lincoln Stars

Stars Score Seven Goals for Third Time in 2023-24

Published on February 3, 2024 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Lincoln Stars News Release


The Lincoln Stars won their ninth consecutive head-to-head home game against the Omaha Lancers with a 7-3 win on Saturday night at the Ice Box.

Playing in front of its largest home crowd since Feb. 5, 2022, Lincoln (16-19-0-2) scored at least twice in each period, including three times in the third, in front of 3,515 fans. Matthew Maltais led the way with two goals and assist while five other players recorded multi-point games. Omaha (7-27-3-0) has not won at the Ice Box since Mar. 11, 2022.

"It feels great," head coach Rocky Russo said. "We had a bad start to the second period obviously. Made a couple mistakes. They were able to capitalize, but we came back and took the lead again. We get the big one at the end of the second. I felt really good going down into the locker room at that point with a two goal lead. Knowing that we were kind of on a mission at that point. We played really well the second half of the second period. We were able to carry it into the third."

Lincoln rushed out to a 2-0 lead after the first period only to surrender two goals in the opening 3:50 of the second. Martin Masa set Justin Mexico up in front of the net from behind the goal line for the Stars first goal 6:56 into the game and then Jack Pechar scored his team-leading fifth power-play goal at the 16:24 mark for to put the Stars up a pair after 20 minutes.

After the Lancers evened it up, Adam Kleber gave the Stars the lead for good halfway through the second. His wrist shot from just inside the blue line after an extended offensive zone possession made it 3-2, Stars.

"I think it was big to get that goal because they came out strong in the second period and got two quick goals," Kleber said. "Obviously to respond and retake the lead was big for our confidence. Coming into the third period our leaders and our coaches were telling us to remain calm and stay consistent because those are the things that make great players and great coaches."

The Stars weren't finished. Kai Janviriya struck with 0.2 seconds to go in the second period to beat the buzzer. Pechar won the face-off to the left side and Janviriya beat his man to the puck and fired it past goaltender Lucas Szyszka for the eventual game-winning goal.

"I wanted to stand in the middle to get the easy shot if it came back," Janviriya said, "but Rocky said 'no, go line up on the wall.' So I thought I'd go there and see what happens. The puck came to me and I saw the goalie cheating so I put it far side."

Lincoln struck three times in the third with Juan Copeland getting the first by batting home the rebound after Maltais' initial shot hit the post 2:07 into the third. Maltais got two tallies of his own later on, striking on a two-on-one rush 7:44 in and then right off of a faceoff win at the 13:42 mark.

Goaltender Lucas Massie earned his third consecutive win 25 saves. The Stars have scored at least five goals in each of his last three starts and a total of 17 goals in the three victories.

Lincoln takes on the Des Moines Buccaneers next weekend in a matchup of the two teams battling for the sixth seed in the Western Conference. Both teams have 34 points but Lincoln is just ahead of Des Moines with one more regulation win. Friday's game is at the Ice Box at 7:05 p.m. and Saturday's contest is at Buccaneer Arena at 6 p.m.

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United States Hockey League Stories from February 3, 2024


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