Urdahl's Hat Trick Propels Stars Past Omaha
February 6, 2021 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Lincoln Stars News Release
LINCOLN, Neb. - Zach Urdahl scored his first career hat trick, propelling the Lincoln Stars (9-13-1) to a 3-2 victory over the Omaha Lancers (14-13) on Saturday night at the Ice Box.
Urdahl scored his career-high tenth goal of the season 4:10 into the first period after his shot from the slot beat Jakub Dobes five-hole. Dominic James and Clay Hanus picked up the assists.
When the Stars were handed a power play towards the back half of the first period, it would be Urdahl again on the doorstep, tapping home his second goal at 13:19.
Dalton Norris' shot was knocked down by a defender in front and Urdahl scooped up the loose puck and deposited it past Dobes. James Stefan collected the secondary assist.
The Stars went into the first period intermission up 2-0, but were outshot 8-7 by the Lancers. Ryan Lautenbach responded for Omaha with a power-play goal of his own 5:39 into the second period.
Aidan McCarthy was sensational in the middle period, making 13 saves on 14 shots in the frame, alone. His best sequence came with under eight minutes left following two right pad saves and then a chest stop on Nikita Tarasevich's drive from the slot.
McCarthy and the Stars headed to the third period up 2-1.
Ayrton Martino tied the game at 15:39, solving McCarthy on a breakaway for his fourth goal in Lincoln this season in two appearances with Omaha.
The game was destined for overtime, but Urdahl deflected a shot from Cole Craft through Dobes to give the Stars a 3-2 lead. The goal came at 18:39, marking the University of Wisconsin commit's first career hat trick in the USHL.
McCarthy had to make a sharp stop on Tyler Carpenter in the dying moments, but Lincoln held on for the victory. The Novi, MI native made 32 saves for the Stars, improving his record to 2-0 as a starter since the move from the Dubuque Fighting Saints to Lincoln.
The Stars were 4-for-5 on the penalty kill and 1-for-5 on the power play.
United States Hockey League Stories from February 6, 2021
- Urdahl's Hat Trick Propels Stars Past Omaha - Lincoln Stars
- Stampede Storms over Tri-City 5-3 - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Storm Split Weekend Series with Stampede - Tri-City Storm
- Steel Sweep Weekend Series with 9-3 Win over Green Bay - Chicago Steel
- Stars Top Lancers, 3-2 - Omaha Lancers
- Force Sweep the Weekend in Waterloo - Fargo Force
- Goaltenders Highlight Saturday Contest - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Tri-City Battles Sioux Falls in Final Game of Weekend - Tri-City Storm
- Lancers Edge out Musketeers, 3-2 - Omaha Lancers
- Omaha Outlasts Musketeers in Western Conference Clash - Sioux City Musketeers
- Storm Defeat Stampede in Overtime 5-4 - Tri-City Storm
- Stars Can't Rally against Bucs - Lincoln Stars
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