The Lincoln Stars won their fourth consecutive game with a 5-1 win over Omaha Lancers on Saturday night at the Ice Box.
Daniel Sambuco and German Yavash scored and then got into fights later. Lincoln (30-18-3) scored three times in the first period and then dropped the gloves three different times in the third to earn its sixth consecutive win against Omaha (14-27-5-3).
"There was a lot of energy, the fans were into it," head coach Rocky Russo said. "Obviously they got their money's worth tonight. I was really proud of the guys more than anything for sticking up for each other, battling and not being afraid to drop the mitts in the right situation."
Doug Grimes scored for a third consecutive game while Mason Marcellus and Henry Nelson both recorded two assists. Lincoln went a perfect 3-for-3 on the penalty kill to complete a perfect weekend. The Stars have successfully killed off each of their opponents' last 17 power plays over the last four games.
Lincoln scored 1:33 into the game and never looked back. Klavs Veinbergs cashed in with a one-timer in front of the net off a feed from Nelson down low 22 seconds into the first power play of the night.
Yavash doubled up the lead with his second in a Stars' uniform at the 8:20 mark of the first. Jimmy Jurcev's initial shot from atop the right circle was denied and Brennan Ali followed up on it but did not have enough to get it past netminder Kevin Pasche. Yavash followed it from just behind Ali and cashed in from one knee.
Grimes scored his 18th of the season by lunging forward at the puck just before it got to Pasche and elevated it over his glove at the 16:54 mark of the third. That sent the Stars into the locker room up three after 20 minutes a night after all three of their goals against Des Moines came in the final two periods.
Sambuco scored in his 100th game on a shot from Adam Kleber just wide of the front post that clipped his body and went into the net at the 12:58 mark of the third. It was reviewed but the call on the ice stood. Sambuco stayed on the ice for the faceoff and nine seconds after play got back underway dropped the gloves with Adam Cardona for the first scrap of the night.
Jurcev capped the scoring with his first goal at home and second of the season thanks to a great cross-ice pass from Mason Marcellus at the 18:12 mark of the third.
Two other fights occurred before that tally. Mateo Picozzi and Yavash got after it 10 seconds after Sambuco and Cardona's fight. Wyatt Olson and Tanner Rowe dropped the gloves with just under five minutes remaining in the game.
Lincoln has a home-and-home set next weekend against Sioux City as it host the Musketeers on Friday at 7:05 p.m. before traveling to the Tyson Events Center on Saturday at 6:05. Friday's game is Aubri Brown Club Night with a postgame jersey auction to follow.
Â
Save time, every time when you use Online Check-in for a great haircut at Great Clips – proud partner of the Lincoln Stars.
Download their app or check-in online at greatclips.com. Great Clips. It's gonna be great.
Â
