SIOUX FALLS, SD -- Another strong first period performance by a visiting opponent paved the way for a Lincoln Stars victory as they held off the Sioux Falls Stampede 4-1 in front of 4,287 at the Arena Saturday night.

Lincoln goaltender Jackson Teichroeb blockaded 37 of 38 Stampede shots thrown at him and Dominik Shine scored twice for the Stars, who finished the season series winning just three of eight games against Sioux Falls (42-16-2) this year.  Dennis Kravchenko had the lone goal for Sioux Falls as the Herd finished a weekend winless at the Arena for just the second time this season.

“Teichroeb played great in goal for them and they did enough things to win the hockey game,” said head coach Cary Eades, whose team remained seven points ahead of Fargo for first place in the Western Conference with four games left.

For the second night in a row the Herd entered the locker room trailing after twenty minutes, this time 2-0 after goals by Phillip Marinaccio and Shine.  Marinaccio hit the scoreboard first with 5:18 to go after he found a puck near Charlie Lindgren’s right side and nailed it in.  Almost three minutes later Shine made it a two goal lead with a second attempt in the face of the Herd netminder.  The Herd enjoyed several close one-timer chances on Teichroeb but finished the first period empty-handed in nine shots.

“We’ve had a tough time getting that first goal of the game and we’ve been playing from behind,” said Eades.

Sioux Falls received the night’s first power play with 3:13 to go in the second period but once again couldn’t get that man advantage goal on their home ice.  Lindgren stopped all nine shots he faced, including a sprawling, athletic save at the 14:47 mark. Sioux Falls once again had several close chances, but couldn’t get the puck to bounce in and even clanked a shot off the crossbar.

Star center Zachary Aston-Reese all but clinched the contest for his team with a nasty strike at 3:10, making it 3-0 against a Herd offense that couldn’t seem to catch a break all night.  Kravchenko attempted to conjure a rally with a fast score with 1:42 left, but it was too little too late as an empty netter shortly after sealed the 4-1 Lincoln win.

“I’d rather have a lesson now,” said Eades.  “The possible silver lining in this could be that we don’t wait until the playoffs to understand this and fall down 2-0 in a series.”

The Herd hit the road Friday to face the Fargo Force then return to the Arena for the last three games of the year, starting with a tilt next Saturday against the USHL-leading Dubuque Fighting Saints.

Courtesy:  Sioux Falls Stampede

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