The Lincoln Stars took a 3-0 lead into the third period but fell to the Sioux City Musketeers, 4-3, in a shootout on Friday night at the Ice Box.
Lincoln (30-18-3-1) suffered its first shootout loss and saw its four-game winning streak come to an end. The Stars have now earned points in five straight games and remain in third place in the Western Conference with 64 points.
Sioux City (24-23-2-3) scored twice in the final minute to tie the game up and force overtime. Finn Loftus scored the only goal of the shootout in the sixth round to complete the comeback and give the Musketeers their fourth consecutive win. Each of the last three have come after regulation.
Tanner Ludtke and Dashel Oliver scored 2:30 apart in the first period to give Lincoln a quick multi-goal lead. Ludtke hopped off the bench and received a pass at the middle of the blue line from Jared Mangan on the far-boards side. Ludtke weaved through the defense and tucked the puck home for his 28th goal of the season.
Oliver nearly scored on a wraparound attempt behind the net but a save forced a faceoff and he wouldn't be denied a second time. He slipped as he was taking a wrist shot from atop the far circle but made no mistake to score his fifth goal of the season at the 9:23 mark of the first.
Brennan Ali redirected a Boston Buckberger one-timer to send Lincoln into the third up 3-0. Jack Larrigan shifted back and forth in the near corner, protecting the puck long enough to bounce a pass off the boards to Buckberger and Ali's deflection hit off goaltender Axel Mangbo and bounced into the net.
Sam Deckhut put Sioux City on the board midway through the third by wristing home a rebound into an empty net to break up a shutout bid at the 9:11 mark of the third. Ethan Gardula and Kaden Shahan scored 20 seconds apart in the final minute to even the game up. Both goals came with the Musketeers' net empty and Shahan's was with 16.8 seconds remaining in regulation.
Lincoln gets a quick opportunity to bounce back against Sioux City as it travels to the Tyson Events Center on Saturday for a 6:05 p.m. puckdrop. The Stars have three home games next week, beginning on Wednesday morning at 11:05 against Tri-City in the STEM Game. Waterloo comes to town for a pair of games at the Ice Box next Friday and Saturday as well. Tickets can be purchased at lincolnstars.com.
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
