Men's Ice Hockey 4/19/2024 11:16:00 PM Joel Norman

STARS COMEBACK FALLS SHORT IN GAME 1

PECHAR SCORES TWICE IN FINAL THREE MINUTES

The Lincoln Stars dropped Game 1 of the second round of the 2024 Clark Cup Playoffs, 3-2, to the Sioux City Musketeers on Friday night at the Ice Box.

Jack Pechar scored twice in the final 2:24 to bring the Stars within one goal. Pechar leads Lincoln with three goals this postseason.

"It definitely generates some momentum," Pechar said. "I think if we have a couple more minutes there in the third I think we tie it up. Who knows what happens in overtime but it's just how it goes. Just got to focus on the new day tomorrow."

Sioux City took the opening game of the best-of-five series on the road by scoring three times in the first period. Colby Saganiuk scored a power-play goal at the 10:54 mark of the middle frame and Gavin Garry and Finn Loftus scored even-strength goals at the 1:07 and 17:28 marks, respectively.

Pechar broke up the shutout bid a the 17:36 mark on a redirection goal off the initial shot from Kai Janviriya on a six-on-four power-play goal. Then Pechar and Janviriya teamed up to score a similar goal with a six-on-five goal 1:22 later.

"I think we're such a resilient group," Janviriya said. "We've grown so much as a team over the course of the year. We've been through every high and every low together. We've navigated it really well. I think it's very beneficial and obviously seeing a game like that we can come back and make it a game now. We just need to worry about playing a full 60."

Sioux City leads the series 1-0 and Game 2 is Saturday night 6:05 p.m. Tickets are available now at lincolnstars.com. The series shifts to Sioux City on Monday for Game 3. Games 4 and 5, if necessary, will also be at the Tyson Event Center on Tuesday and Thursday, respectfully.

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