Men's Ice Hockey 1/20/2024 12:08:00 AM Joel Norman

STARS' THIRD PERIOD OUTBURST DELIVERS WIN OVER STAMPEDE

PETERS SCORES TWICE, MASSIE STOPS 42 SHOTS

The Lincoln Stars scored three times in the third period to defeat the Sioux Falls Stampede. 5-2, on Friday night at the Ice Box.

All three players on the Stars' top line scored and Lucas Massie stopped 42 shots as Lincoln (14-17-0-2) won for the fifth time in the last six games. The Stars also captured their sixth home victory in the last eight games played at the Ice Box.

Keaton Peters tallied twice for his fifth career multi-goal game and second this season. Both have come against Sioux Falls (18-5-2-1), who Peters has scored five goals against. He moved into a tie for the team lead with his two goals and now has 13 over his last 17 games.

"It felt really good to be in the Ice Box for this in front of our fans," Peters said. "I think we are starting to buy into our system. I thought our forecheck was really good, we were getting pucks deep and we were able to extend a lot of o-zone possession."

Peters' line of Matthew Maltais on his left and Ryan Spinale on his right combined to record eight points (4+4). Maltais opened the three-goal third period when poked home a rebound on the power play 2:05 into the third. Maltais had missed 15 of the previous 19 games but immediately made a difference on Friday night with Spinale and Peters.

"We're three hard-working guys," Maltais said. "We just see each other on the ice. It's been a really good week of practice. I've already starting building chemistry with Keaton and then we added Spinale in over the last week in practice and we just clicked."

Spinale struck just 14 seconds into the second period on a wrist shortly after entering the attacking zone for the first goal by either team.

Spinale earned his other point on Peters' first goal of the night as he set him up all alone near-post side and Peters wired the puck home at the 3:35 mark of the third. Peters cut to net right up the middle and put his back to the defender to stave him off and score 3:24 after his first goal.

Jared Mangan scored the Stars' other goal to double up the lead in the second period. His breakaway tally at the 6:12 mark gave him 10 goals this season as he became the fourth member of the Stars to record double-digit goals.

Massie's 42 saves marked his second-most this season. His stopped all 12 shots in a first period where Sioux Falls went on the power play twice. This was just the second time that Lincoln scored

"I felt like I had a good feel for the puck right from the jump," Massie said. "I knew the boys were going to get a couple so I just had to shut the door."

The Stars face the Stampede again at 6:05 on Saturday night. It's Princess Night and a Princes Night Pack with four tickets and two tiaras is available for purchase now at lincolnstars.com

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