USHL Lincoln Stars

Stars Topple Rival Lancers, 4-2

December 11, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Lincoln Stars News Release


Lincoln, Neb. - Two-point nights from Biagio Lerario and Patrick Polino helped the Stars best the Lancers, 4-2, and establish separation in the Western Conference standings on Friday night at the Ice Box.

Neither team found the back of the net in the first period. Shots were 9-5 in favor of Lincoln.

Scoring opened in the second period, as the teams combined to score three goals.

Polino made it 1-0 with his tenth goal of the season on a breakaway at the 6:06 mark, then forward Joachim Weberg added to the lead with his first USHL goal at 13:19 of the period.

Lancers forward Brannon McManus cut the lead in half with a power play goal roughly three minutes later, making 2-1 at the second intermission.

The Stars held the lead in the third period as Biagio Lerario made it 3-1 at 11:05 of the frame.

Omaha defenseman Jacob Bryson cashed in with less than two minutes remaining in the game, but Polino would add his second goal of the night with an empty netter to seal Lincoln's 4-2 victory.

Stars goaltender Patrik Virtanen finished with 30 saves.

The Stars are back in action Saturday, December 12th. They will travel to Des Moines to take on the Buccaneers. Puck drop is set for 7:05 pm.

COACH'S COMMENTS - CHRIS HARTSBURG

Your impressions of the game?

Certainly very happy, I thought for sixty minutes we worked hard. That might have been our most complete sixty minutes of the year as far as our work habits go. We got a lot of good efforts tonight. The one I was really happy for was Chayse Primeau. He came in, first game in the league and he didn't look out of place. I thought he looked really good. Anthony Wyse had a really good game. Good for Joachim to get his first goal there. Really happy for him he has been battling through it all year. He is a little guy who has been working hard to get in the lineup and stay there, happy he got rewarded. For me it was we got back to the way we need to play, to work and compete for sixty minutes that's what I was really happy about.

Was there much said during the intermission or did your team understand your message from the get go?

No, we've been talking about it really for weeks now. We saw it two out of three games last weekend. To me it was really encouraging the way we came out tonight. Especially the atmosphere of this game the build up of this game, first versus second place a little bit more at stake then I care about this time of year. Certainly I thought we handled it well. Also without Grant (Jozefek) and Ludvig (Hoff) in our lineup we showed we are still a good hockey team, which is what we are we have good depth and guys that can play in many different situations and that showed tonight.

What stood out to me was fifteen seconds left with a two-goal lead and your team was still bringing it.

Well, they care, that's what shows me they care. Getting in situations like that - this is a group that cares and they care about winning hockey games and they care about winning at home. That's what should matter for these young men. Overall I'm really happy with how we played tonight. We have to bring this effort tomorrow night as well. That's one thing we have struggled a bit with at times this year, we have to be consistent and I hope we have turned a page and are ready to do it.

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United States Hockey League Stories from December 11, 2015


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