Chicago Staal claimed a 4-3 victory over Lincoln Stars in the USAHL on Saturday, 19 September 2026. The hosts opened their campaign with a win, while the visitors extended a winless run to two games. And here's the thing — the scoreline tells only part of the story. Both sides had met earlier this season, with mixed results.
Chicago moved to third in the standings with one game played and one win. Lincoln remained eighth after two defeats and zero points. The gap between them in the table is still theoretical, but the momentum has shifted. By then, the visitors were already looking for their first points of the season.
Recent form offers some context. Chicago had dropped matches against Lincoln on 28 March, losing 6-4 and 1-7 in separate outings. Lincoln, meanwhile, came off a 3-6 defeat to Dubuque Fighting Saints on Friday. There is no value left at that number when you are chasing results.
The visitors have struggled since their 4-3 win over Sioux Falls Stampede on 19 April. Three consecutive defeats have followed, including two heavy losses to the same outfit. To be fair, the Stampede fixture has been a pattern — they beat them 6-2, then lost 1-5 and 0-2.
What this result means is straightforward. Chicago started the season with a win, which is more than can be said for Lincoln. The visitors are running out of games before they find their footing. One point separates them on goal difference, and that is enough to keep things tight.
