Men's Ice Hockey 3/22/2024 11:52:00 PM Joel Norman

OLIVER'S LATE TALLY SNAPS SKID

STARS IMPROVE TO 4-2-1 VS. OMAHA

Dashel Oliver broke the tie late in the third period and the Lincoln Stars defeated the Omaha Lancers, 3-2, on Friday night at the Liberty First Credit Union Arena.

Lincoln (23-26-3-2) retained sole possession of the sixth-best record and the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with Friday's win. The victory snapped a six-game (0-5-1) losing streak and improved the Stars to 4-2-1 against their rivals.

Oliver's low shot at the 15:59 mark of the third period beat Omaha (11-39-3-0) goaltender Mikhail Yegorov and gave Lincoln its first lead of the night. The Stars erased single-goal deficits in both of the first two periods before striking in a period that they dominated, outshooting the Lancers, 12-4.

"It was a good reload," Oliver said. "I was able to force a turnover and then we got a good transition north. (Justin Mexico) made a good poise play and saw me coming in behind him. I was able to drop my shoulder, saw a little opening five hole and just got it off as quick as possible."

Mexico and Jack Pechar picked up the assists on Oliver's goal and also scored Lincoln's two other tallies. Pechar stole the puck in the neutral zone, carried it in to the attacking end himself and wristed it past Yegorov at the 18:40 mark of the first. His 17th goal of the season was also his 12th on the road and evened the game up after Sam Scheetz cashed in on a two-on-one rush at the 3:40 mark of the opening frame.

Nick Pierre scored a power play goal 2:55 into the second but the Stars responded just over two minutes later. Mexico carried the puck into the zone and missed the net on his initial shot but followed up on the loose puck behind the cage, wrapped it around far side and was rewarded. His shot missed the net but hit off the skate of Lancers defenseman Noah Jones in the crease and redirected into the net at the 5:08 mark.

Yan Shostak stopped 19 shots to earn his 16th win of the season. His save of the night and perhaps the season came when he denied Christian Kocsis far-post side with 6:41 to go in the game. Kocsis pried the puck from behind the goal line to the front of the net but Shostak snared it with the glove to keep the game tied, 2-2.

Lincoln wraps up the weekend on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. at Sioux Falls looking to create some separation from Des Moines for the final playoff spot in the West. The Buccaneers defeated the Tri-City Storm, 5-2, Friday night. They host the Lancers on Saturday before traveling to Omaha on Sunday. The Stars are 2-1-0-1 against the Stampede this season and most recently split a two-game set in Lincoln, Jan. 19-20.

"I'd like us to play for 60 minutes," head coach Rocky Russo said. "When we do, we are a tough out. We have some flaws but we also have a lot of thick skin from the adversity that we have been through this year. I like our chances against any team in this league when we play 60, we commit to it and we don't turn over pucks in gray areas."

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