Texas Outlasts Rockford in SO, 4-3

Texas played a close one with Rockford but never trailed in the game and earned the win ultimately.

Texas opened up the scoring with another goal from the fourth line. Tristan King got his first professional goal thanks to some forechecking pressure by Luke Gazdic and Cody Chupp. Chupp collected a turnover and sent it to Tristan King who wristed it home. Rockford evened it up on the power play with a goal from Brandon Pirri at the 9:01 mark. The goal was off one of only four shots in the first period by Rockford. Texas closed out strong with a goal from Aaron Gagnon on the right half-wall after some sustained pressure in the Rockford zone. Texas outshot Rockford 14-4 in the opening frame and led 2-1.

Rockford evened things up in the second on both shots and goals. Taffe scored his third of the year on the power play in the second to even the goals at two a piece. Rockford outshot Texas 11-6 in the frame but Texas was still ahead overall 20-15.

Texas and Rockford would match each other further in the third period. Maxime Fortunus got the Stars the lead coming off of a power play on a shot from the point. Fabian Brunnstrom assisted for his first points in Texas this year. Only 73 seconds later, the IceHogs would get it back with Kyle Beach getting his 2nd of the year and 4th in 5 games against the Stars. Texas would skate to a tie at the end of regulation and a scoreless OT period. Rockford evened up the shots on the night to 31 a piece.

The shootout showed how even matched the teams were on the night as well. After 4 goals in the first four rounds, it took until the 9th round for Mathieu Tousignant to score the game winner.

Texas could have made this a much less close game with better special teams play. Rockford was 2 for 3 on the power play and Texas was 0 for 4. If either of those stats change one in Texas's favor, OT and the shootout is avoided. This is especially important to consider with tonight's game being the 2nd in a 3-in-3. Texas goalie Brent Krahn is now 7-0 in Rockford as a Texas Stars including last year's regular season and playoffs.

Tonight's lines:
Wathier-Gagnon-Rallo
Brunnstrom-Morin-Vincour
Sceviour-Roman-Tousignant
Gazdic-King-Chupp

Spang-Stephenson
Benn-Fortunus
Monast-Tr. Ludwig

Krahn

Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Larsen (callup)
Lukowich, Backman (scratched)
Sawada, McCulloch (undisclosed injury)
Blindenbacher (concussion-like symptoms)

Tonight's attendance was 2,096.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at Rockford - October 27 2010

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