The Lincoln Stars came back from two different deficits but fell to the Tri-City Storm, 6-3, on Friday night at the Ice Box.
Lincoln (37-19-3-1) lost in regulation for just third time in its last 16 games as it could not over a four-goal third period from Tri-City (32-20-4-4). The Storm also scored four power-play goals in Friday night's win to snap a four-game losing streak while simultaneously snapping the Stars' four-game win streak.
The Stars never led but twice tied the game back up, including early in the third period when Cole Crusberg-Roseen ripped a shot from just inside the blue line on a zone entry at the 1:50 mark for his seventh goal of the season and second in as many games. That made it 2-2, but the Storm scored straight goals before Boston Buckberger scored on a rebound after a Wyatt Olson shot at the 18:31 mark. Â
The Storm scored the games' first goal at the 13:27 mark of the first when Graham Gamache scored on the power play and it was another Tri-City man-advantage chance that led to another goal, but this time for the Stars. Jack Larrigan scored his team-leading third shorthanded goal on a two-on-one rush where Brennan Ali intercepted a cross-ice pass in the Tri-City defensive zone and then set up Larrigan.
These two teams will meet again on Saturday night at the Viaero Center at 7:05 in the final game of the regular season. Even with Friday's loss Lincoln still has the edge in the season series with a 7-4-1 mark against Tri-City.
With the Stars' loss and Waterloo's 4-1 win over Dubuque the Black Hawks have clinched the second seed in the Western Conference and the first-round bye. Lincoln will host the Des Moines Buccaneers on Monday, April 24, in Game 1 of the first round of the Clark Cup Playoffs. It will be a best-of-three games series with all games taking place at the Ice Box at 7:05 each night. Game 2 will be on Tuesday, April 25, and Game 3, if necessary, will be on Wednesday, April 26. Tickets for the first two games can be purchased now at lincolnstars.com.
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