Lincoln's Yan Shostak stopped all 40 shots on goal in Lincoln's 1-0 win over Waterloo in Game 1 of the first round on Monday.
With the first round of the 2024 USHL Clark Cup Playoffs commencing, three of the four road teams came away with victories on Monday night.
The Madison Capitols used a five-goal second period to skate past the defending Clark Cup champion Youngstown Phantoms.
Meanwhile, Lincoln's Yan Shostak put on a goaltending clinic in the Stars' 1-0 win in Waterloo.
And Sioux Falls came away with a 6-5 overtime win against Tri-City after the Storm tied the game with four seconds left in regulation on an unbelievable redirect by forward Jake Rozzi, who tallied a hat trick in the loss.
Green Bay was the only home team to earn a win in Monday's opener, holding on in a high-scoring 6-5 affair against the Chicago Steel.
Here is a closer look at each game.
Madison 7, Youngstown 4
The Capitols scored five times in the second period, including two goals from Aiden Long, as Madison and Youngstown combined for seven goals in the frame.
Long and Max Nagel each potted a pair of goals, while Sam Rice and Christopher Delaney collected two assists on the night for Madison. Austin Burnevik tallied his first of the postseason in that five-goal second period.
Sam Ranallo, Conner de Haro, Grant Young, and Andrew Strathmann (CBJ) found the back of the net for Youngstown.
Caps netminder Carsen Musser (ARI) turned aside 29 of 33 shots on goal in the Game 1 win.
Lincoln 1, Waterloo 0
Jack Pechar's second-period goal was the lone tally in the game, as Lincoln netminder Yan Shostak was brilliant all night.
The St. Cloud commit was under siege from a Waterloo squad that generated a combined 30 shots on goals between the first and third periods.
However, Shostak, who did not have a shutout in 41 regular-season games, stood tall in net to blank the Black Hawks.
Sioux Falls 6, Tri-City 5 (OT)
In what was perhaps the most thrilling of games on Monday, the Stampede outlasted the Storm in overtime.
Jake Rozzi recorded a hat trick in the loss, including the game-tying goal with four seconds remaining in regulation.
Chase LaPinta and Tyler Borgula each recorded a pair of goals for Sioux Falls, while Hunter Anderson found the back of the net at the 11:14 mark of the overtime period to lift the Stampede to a Game 1 win.
Green Bay 6, Chicago 5
The Gamblers outlasted the Steel, 6-5, on Monday night. Ryan Humphrey's first goal of the postseason proved the game winner in a wild third period that saw Green Bay and Chicago combine for six goals.
Steel forward Michael Hage (2024) led the team with three points (1-2-3), including a third-period goal that was initially waived off as a no-goal on the ice. The officials reviewed the play and overturned the call.
Likewise, Green Bay's Lukas Peterson tallied a three-point night, including two goals.
Jayson Shaugabay (TBL), Lev Katzin (2025), Julian Lutz (ARI), Peterson, and Humphrey all found the back of the net for the Gamblers.
Meanwhile, Ben Yurchuk, Mick Thompson, Kolin Sisson (2025), Michael Hage (2024), and Reid Conn lit the lamp for Chicago.
Three Stars
1. Yan Shostak (LIN)
Including the regular season, the Lincoln netminder matched his season-high with 40 saves in a win. As noted, he also collected his first career USHL shutout, and it could not have come at a better time.
2. Jake Rozzi (TC)
With Trevor Connelly (2024) out of the lineup and preparing for the World U18s at the end of the month, someone on Tri-City had to step up in his absence. Facing a do-or-die situation with time running out, Rozzi played hero with four seconds left on the clock.
3. Aiden Long (MAD)
Perhaps Long's two-goal performance near the end of the regular season was a sign of things to come. The Cornell commit buried a rebound on his first goal. Long then scored on a backhander in transition later in the second period.