Jack Pechar's two late goals almost rekindled the Lincoln Stars' fast start to the USHL playoffs.
But it was three Sioux City goals in the second period that helped the Musketeers take a 3-2 victory Friday at the Ice Box and Game 1 of the best-of-five USHL Western Conference quarterfinal series.
Trailing Sioux City 3-0 with minutes to play, Pechar scored his first of two goals 17:36 into the final frame.
A minute and 22 seconds later, the Niskayuna, New York, native gave Lincoln a fighting chance.
“I just told (Pechar) to go to the front of the net and tip it in,” Lincoln head coach Rocky Russo said. “'Go to the front of the net and tip it in, Jack. Kai (Janviriya) will get it there, you tip it in,' and he said, 'OK.'”
It was Pechar's third goal of the USHL playoffs and 22nd of the season, but it was a little too late with the Stars' backs against the wall.
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Sioux City, fresh off a first-round bye after earning the Western Conference's second seed, scored three momentum-shifting goals in the second period.
Gavin Garry scored 67 seconds into the second period to give the Musketeers a 1-0 lead. It was the first time Lincoln has trailed in the playoffs after sweeping Waterloo in the first round with a 2-0 sweep in a best-of-three series.
“If we had another 45 seconds, (Pechar) probably would have tipped another one in,” Russo said. “We need to generate those chances throughout the course of the game — certainly can't wait until the net is empty to generate offense.
“We need to sustain offensive pressure. That is something that is no secret.”
Lincoln and Sioux City split the regular-season series, but trailing 1-0 in the Clark Cup Playoffs isn't worst thing the Stars have faced this season.
Going from an 11-game losing streak in November to securing the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, Lincoln knows adverse situations. They've responded time and time again.
“We are such a resilient group,” Janviriya said. “We've grown so much as a group and as a team over the course of the year. We've been through every high, every low — together.
“We've navigated it really well. I think its very beneficial and seeing a game like that, I think we can comeback, now we just need to worry about playing a full 60 (minutes).”
The comeback fell short, but Pechar thinks they can carry it into Saturday's Game 2 against the Musketeers.
“I definitely think it created some momentum,” Pechar said of his two goals. “If we had a couple more minutes, I think we tie it up, and who knows what happens in overtime. That's just how it goes and just focus on a new day tomorrow.”
Lincoln and Sioux City meet again Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Ice Box.