Men's Ice Hockey 3/30/2024 10:48:00 PM Joel Norman

STARS WRAP UP MARCH WITH ANOTHER SPINALE SHOOTOUT WINNER

STARS WIN SIX-OF-NINE GAMES IN SEASON SERIES VS. TRI-CITY

Ryan Spinale scored his third shootout goal in as many attempts this season and the Lincoln Stars defeated the Tri-City Storm, 2-1, on Saturday night at the Ice Box.

Spinale scored the only goal of the shootout in the third round and Lincoln earned back-to-back wins to wrap up March. Spinale improved to 3-for-3 in the shootout to become only the third player in the USHL to score three shootout goals this season.

The two teams were held off the scoresheet in the opening 40 minutes for the second time in the last three matchups but the first time for the Stars in a game since Mar. 2. Keaton Peters broke the ice with his team-leading sixth power-play goal at the 6:08 mark of the second. The 42nd goal of his career was also his team-leading 22nd of the season.

"I think our puck movement (on the power play) has been really good," Peters said. "We're starting to understand where we need to be to support pucks. Yesterday I was able to find (Justin Mexico) and today he found me."

Tri-City forced overtime when Cam Briere one-timed a feed from Trevor Connelly to the right-wing circle with the Storm net empty and an extra attacker on the ice.

The two teams only combined for three shots in overtime despite Tri-City controlling the bulk of the possession. Each of the first five combined shooters did not score in the shootout until Spinale tucked the puck past goaltender Cameron Korpi. He previously scored shootout-clinching goals Dec. 31 and Jan. 13, both times against the Storm.

"I kind of had an idea," Spinale said. "The first time I kind of faked backhand, went forehand. Then I went forehand, faked backhand (the second time). So I figured to get him to bite on the first move would work out so I stuffed it on the forehand."

Yan Shostak stopped 35-of-36 shots and all three shots in the shootout to earn his 18th win of the season. It marked the second straight that Shostak stopped 35 shots and took a shutout bid late into the third period.

With Des Moines' 2-1 win over Omaha the two teams remain deadlocked at sixth in the Western Conference standings with 55 points apiece but the Stars have one more win than the Buccaneers and thus have the tiebreaker for the final playoff spot.

Lincoln has two more home games next weekend with Sioux City coming to town on Friday and Omaha on Saturday. Friday is FFA/AG Night and Saturday is Billet Appreciation Night. Tickets are available at lincolnstars.com

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