USHL Lincoln Stars

Stars Stumble in Third Period against Sioux City in 4-2 Loss

November 10, 2018 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Lincoln Stars News Release


SIOUX CITY, IOWA - The Stars headed north to meet the Sioux City Musketeers in Iowa Saturday night. Each team entered play with ambitions of extending point streaks and advancing in their respective climbs up the standings. The Stars combo of a red-hot Jacob Mucitelli and steady defense would turn back early-game chances from the Musketeers vaunted offense. Lincoln would tilt the pressure in the opposite direction as the period progressed, benefiting from a lineup with renewed depth and skill. Grant Johnson would break a scoreless tie at 7:54 after his line drove hard on the forecheck and set him up off of sharp passing from Justin Lee and Matthew Barbolini. Johnson's first career goal gave the Stars a 1-0 lead that would survive the first period.

In the second, Lincoln opened with the early jump, mounting a smattering of solid chances on net over the first few shifts. The Musketeers responded with strong push to the halfway point of the period. Both Mucitelli and Sibell stood their ground, keeping the score knotted through the first 11 and a half minutes of the middle stanza. Past the 10 minute marker, the pace of play evened out as each team traded strong shifts on the attack. It was on a blocked shot by Sioux City that would swing momentum to their cause. Kevin Lombardi corralled the bouncing puck off the block and set up a 2-on-1 back the other way. Mucitelli challenged at the top of his crease as the Musketeers drove toward the net, but Lombardi kept the puck and ripped it through to tie the game at one. Lincoln did well to come right back down the ice with a strong push, but could not solve Sibell for the remainder of the second, sending the contest to the third in a tie.

The third period saw the game swing decidedly one way. The Musketeers forced a breakaway on a Stars power play that saw Bobby Brink drive home and record his ninth tally of the season at 2:45. Brink would then notch goal number 10 on the power play at 6:03 to give Sioux City a 3-1 lead. Lincoln battled back but was held off until 3:13 remaining on the clock. On a late push, Tristan Ashbrook took a shot from the top of the zone where Josiah Slavin deflected past Sibell to pull the Stars within one. With Mucitelli pulled, Lincoln tried to score in the final 2:30 but saw Brink break loose again with the puck where he put home the empty-net marker for the hat-trick clincher.

Lincoln will return to the Ice Box tomorrow afternoon as they recognize and honor veterans with Military Appreciation Day. The Stars will wear custom uniforms that will be auctioned off after the game with proceeds benefiting the Nebraska National Guard Foundation. All veterans with Military I.D. will be admitted free of charge.

Enjoy all you can eat hockey at single 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!

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United States Hockey League Stories from November 10, 2018


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