Antonio Fernandez scored both goals, including the game-winner, and the Lincoln Stars defeated the Sioux Falls Stampede, 2-1, in overtime on Friday night at the Ice Box.
Fernandez's pair of goals give him four in the last three games. He now has eight goals on the season, which are the most among Stars' defensemen and the sixth-most in the USHL. His second tally of the game with five seconds remaining in overtime to record his first USHL multi-goal game.
The game-winner came shortly after a penalty expired on Fernandez and he jumped on the ice to give the Stars a 4-on-3 power play. Boston Buckberger passed the puck in from the blue line down to the left corner to Mason Marcellus. The Stars captain held the puck at the base of the left circle for a moment before lifting his head and finding Fernandez in between the circles to give the Stars their first overtime win of the season.
"All I could think of was how mad I was that I took a penalty," Fernandez said. "I just took advantage of the last 15 seconds that I got back out there off a great feed from Mason. That was all him."
His first goal of the game came in an unusual spot for a defenseman. Fernandez pinched late in a penalty kill and cashed in with a redirection off a Buckberger shot from the point that came shortly after play returned to even strength.
"I saw (Buckberger) made a move and I thought 'I'm just going to stay net-front,'" Fernandez said. "He had a perfect shot. It hit the back of my heel and went in."
Lucas Massie stopped 33-of-34 shots to improve to 6-0 at the Ice Box. His biggest save came a couple minutes before the game winner when he stopped a wrist shot on the right-wing side from Evan Murr and then lunged cross-crease to his right to deny the rebound backhand opportunity for Adam Zlnka.
The Stars stretched their winning streak to a season-high matching four games. This is the fourth time that the Stars have won four straight games and they will look to extend it to five games on Saturday night when they face the Stampede at the Denny Sanford Premier Center at 6:05. The Stars are 3-2 in the season series against the Stampede and have won each of the last three games in the series. Four-of-the-five games between Lincoln and Sioux Falls have been decided by one goal.
The Stars' next home game comes on Tuesday against the Des Moines Buccaneers. Purchase two tickets for a half-price value or you can purchase a Stars' Valentine's Day Package that includes two tickets, one bear and a $10 food and beverage coupon for $43. Purchase tickets for Valentine's Day here.
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