After a loss in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, the Lincoln Stars were determined not to lose Game 2 on home ice and go down 2-0 in the Western Conference Finals.
Photo Courtesy of the Lincoln Stars
Saturday’s 4-3 victory over the Waterloo Black Hawks at the Ice Box avoided that scenario and brought the series even 1-1.
Lincoln raced out to a 3-0 lead on its first 12 shots of the game. The Black Hawks turned the puck over when a pass at the near side of the net hit off Griffin Brown's skate and rolled to Layne Loomer. He set up Matthew Maltais at the far-post two minutes into the game for a 1-0 Stars lead. It was the second straight game Lincoln struck first.
Lefty Markonidis scored on a two-on-one rush less than a minute and a half later on another Black Hawks offensive blunder. After an errant centering pass, Markonidis one-handed the puck off the far wall and a defender to the neutral zone, sped into the attacking end with Aiden Janz and put it in for his second goal in as many days.
Ethan Weber made it a three-goal first period for the Stars with his first of the postseason at the 12:55 mark. Weber attempted a pass through to Jack Pechar, had the puck bounce back to him and slipped the puck inside the near post.
Alex Pelletier scored for the third time in the post-season and a second straight game for a 4-0 lead. He put in a one-timer high and in between the circles after Daniel Shlaine carried the puck over the blue line near side, looked over his right shoulder at Hunter Anderson, but instead fed the puck to Pelletier at the 5:17 mark of the second.
Hunter Ramos broke up the Stars’ shutout bid 53 seconds later with a wrist shot inside the near post from the right dot.
At that point, the Black Hawks brought goaltender Carter Casey to the bench with less than five minutes to play in favor of the extra attacker. Following a long sequence in the offensive zone, Dylan Compton set up a blast by Kaeden Hawkins from the right circle at 17:53.
Waterloo kept up the pressure, but still trailed 4-2 in the final minute. Finally, Teddy Townsend came the other way and fed Brendan McMorrow for a tally at close range with 21 seconds left.
The Hawks made one final desperate attempt to tie the game, but Lincoln held on for the 4-3 victory. Yan Shostak made 28 saves to earn the win. Casey turned aside 29 Lincoln shots and suffered the loss.
