The Lincoln Stars own the USHL's best record and will look to continue their early-season success in Youngstown. Plus a look at other matchups to keep close tabs on.
Looking at three key matchups and several storylines to keep track of in this weekend's slate of USHL games.
Lincoln Stars vs. Youngstown Phantoms
Ask anyone how a team's start within the first ten games means very little in the grand scheme of the full season.
The Lincoln Stars could not have asked for a better first seven games, owning a league-best 6-1 record. The Stars have been an offensive dynamo and paired that with outstanding defense and goaltending.
This weekend, however, will mark Lincoln head coach Rocky Russo's return to Youngstown, where he got his coaching start as an assistant coach.
Youngstown was known as the Mahoning Valley Phantoms and was part of the North American Hockey League at the time before joining the USHL at the beginning of the 2009-10 season.
"There's a lot of connections that are important to my family and myself, and so I'm certainly excited to get back there," Russo said after practice on Wednesday. "But once the puck drops, it's two points on the line. It's a great USHL game to watch, and that's going to be the main focus. It's not going to be me or my family or Youngstown; it's just going to be what the Stars can do on the road."
Lincoln has played just two road games this season, going 1-1, and will look to improve upon their fast start with a two-game series in Ohio.
Daniel Shlaine is our player to watch for Lincoln. The Russian forward is tied with teammate Jack Pechar for the USHL points lead with nine points on five goals and four assists.
As for those Phantoms, this weekend will mark their first game at the Covelli Centre after opening the season at the USHL Fall Classic and playing on the road over the last three weeks.
Youngstown, sitting with a 3-3 record, is still looking to find their footing in the season's early goings. The Phantoms last played on October 5, splitting a two-game series in Cedar Rapids and had last weekend off.
Jack Hextall (2026) leads the team with six points and 15 shots on goals in his first six USHL games.
Chicago Steel vs. Madison Capitols
The Chicago Steel will look to rebound after dropping a pair of games against the previously winless Omaha Lancers last weekend.
The Steel registered 18 shots on goal but were shut out on Saturday. The following night, Chicago opened the scoring on Ashton Schultz's first in a Steel sweater but allowed five unanswered goals to close out the game.
The Steel are still eyeing improvements to the power play this season. Chicago has converted on just two of their 29 chances on the man advantage.
Conversely, the Madison Capitols have collected points in three straight games and are tied with the Steel in the Eastern Conference standings with a game in hand.
The shorthanded Caps scored three third-period goals in last Saturday's 5-2 win against Green Bay.
Added, Madison is expected to get forward Mason Moe (2025), who scored a hat trick in his call-up with the NTDP U18s last Saturday, back this weekend.
Muskegon Lumberjacks vs. USNTDP U17s
Despite registering just 13 shots on goal, the Jacks came away with a 4-3 win against the Des Moines Buccaneers in their only game last weekend.
Muskegon's tender signings Tynan Lawrence (2026) and Rudolfs Berzkalns (2026) both found the back of the net, with the latter tallying his first career USHL goal.
The NTDP U17s split a two-game series against the Sioux City Musketeers last weekend. Mikey Berchild (2026) and J.P. Hurlbert (2026) both recorded a pair of goals.