Men's Ice Hockey 3/14/2024 10:35:00 PM Joel Norman

STARS RALLY LEAD TO EARN POINT, FALL TO LANCERS IN OVERTIME

MOVE INTO SOLE POSSESION OF FINAL WEST PLAYOFF SPOT

Jared Mangan scored with 2.6 remaining in regulation to force overtime but the Lincoln Stars fell to the Omaha Lancers, 4-3, on Thursday night at the Liberty First Credit Union Arena.

Lincoln (22-24-3-2) earned a point to move into sole possession of sixth place in the Western Conference with 11 games remaining in the regular season. The Stars hold the final playoff spot in the West

After Omaha (10-37-3-0) scored twice in a 37-second span to overcome a 2-1 deficit, Mangan blasted a cross-ice feed from Adam Kleber in the left-wing circle to tie the game and force overtime for his 19th goal of the season.

It also marked the second time that the Stars tied the game. Blake Montgomery evened the game up less than a minute after Nick Pierre's power-play goal on a five-hole wrist shot 19 minutes into the game. Montgomery intercepted the puck just before it left the Omaha defensive zone and scored on a wrist shot from the high slot. He moved into a tie for the team lead with Keaton Peters with his 20th goal of the season.

German Yavash put the Stars in the lead with a low wrist shot from the left-wing corner that trickled through goaltender Mikhail Yegorov for his seventh goal. Aiden Janz picked up the primary assist to record his first USHL point.

That lead held until the 17:04 mark of the third when Mikhail Katin evened the game up by poking home a pass from behind the net near-post side. Aleksi Kivioja redirected a Noah Jones one-timer at the 17:41 mark to give the Lancers the late lead until Mangan's' heroics.

Jones netted the overtime winner by carrying the puck from his own zone and tucking the puck through the five-hole to give Omaha its second consecutive victory and to even up the rivalry head-to-head series at three wins apiece.

The Stars return home Friday after playing six consecutive road games. Lincoln will host the Chicago Steel at 7:05 p.m. before concluding the weekend with Taylor Swift Night against the Steel on Saturday at 6:05. Tickets for both games are available now at lincolnstars.com.

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