Men's Ice Hockey 1/14/2024 12:10:00 AM Joel Norman

SPINALE'S SHOOTOUT WINNER TOPS TRI-CITY AGAIN

STARS TAKE 3-2 WIN AT HOME

Ryan Spinale scored the shootout-winning goal for the second consecutive head-to-head matchup with the Tri-City Storm as the Lincoln Stars earned a 3-2 win on Saturday night at the Ice Box.

Dashel Oliver sniped the top-right corner to open the shootout and then Spinale ended it on a silky backhander to improve to two-for-two in the shootout this season. After beating Cameron Korpi short side on Dec. 31 at the Viareo Center, Spinale changed his mind at the last moment on Saturday night.

"I knew coming in he was probably thinking I would do the same move," Spinale said, "so I tried to make him bite on that, go down and put it on the other side. I was thinking about (trying a backhand shot). I was waiting for him. If he came out with the poke check then I would have just shot it but when I knew he wasn't going to poke I knew the backhand would probably be open."

Blake Montgomery scored for a third consecutive game on a breakaway with 62 seconds remaining in the first period. He has also scored 11 times over his last 16 games.

"There's no question about how dynamic he is, and his ability to change the game with his feet," head coach Rocky Russo said. He's gotten more understanding of what he needs to do to play without the puck. He's more responsible in his own end. He's certainly a fun player to watch. He's electric. He can change the game with his feet."

Montgomery's goal put Lincoln (13-17-0-2) up 2-1 after one period before neither team lit the lamp in the second. Ethan Weber got the three-goal period started with a wrist shot from the right side at the 13:32 mark of the first for his second goal of the season. The Storm answered shortly afterwards when Carmelo Crandell scored at the 14:11 mark.

Tri-City (15-11-1-3) never led but earned a point thanks to Owen Beckner tying the game up on a wrist shot inside the left circle at 15:20 of the third.

The Stars are six points back of a tie with the Storm for fifth place. Lincoln hosts Sioux Falls this weekend for a pair of games. The two games have split the first two games of the season, both at the Denny Sanford Premier Center. Princess Night is coming up on Saturday night and fans can purchase a Princess Night Package to get four tickets and two tiaras for $75 at lincolnstars.com

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