Stars Spot Griffins Three, Rally For 5-3 Win

After tonight's game, the first question to Texas forward Colton Sceviour, who scored two goals and had an assist, was, "So, what happened there?" Sceviour made a confused face and said, "Can you put that into words?" Surely, the evening was difficult to put into words for the Grand Rapids Griffins much more than the Texas Stars. After spotting Grand Rapids a three goal lead in the first 33 minutes, Texas roared back to score the last five goals of the game and win by a final of 5-3.

The game started out at a rather plodding pace with just one shot between the two teams in the first five minutes. The Griffins struck first with Cory Emmerton picking up his 11th of the year halfway through the period. The first ended at an 8-8 tie in shot count.

In the second, Grand Rapids picked up the pace. Andersson and Tardif each scored against Richard Bachman on the five hole to set the score at 3-0 with 7 minutes left in the second. The third goal was particularly deflating, as it was scored shorthanded. "[Grand Rapids] played real well early," said Stars Coach Glen Gulutzan. "They are a really pacey team."

This, however, was when Texas decided to turn it around. "Unfortunately, we tend to play a lot better when we're down," said Sceviour.

Just one second after a power play expired, Sceviour broke the scoring open for Texas to make it 3-1. Assists on the "powe rplay" goal went to Benn and Fortunus. Greg Rallo scored his 25th ofthe year just two minutes later to make it 3-2, roofing the puck to beat Pearce. "[Those two goals] put a lot of confidence in our locker room," said Sceviour. "We're one goal away with 20 minutes left."

The third period was all Stars as they outshot the Griffins 15-3 in the frame. Aaron Gagnon opened the scoring with a smooth goal off a home run pass from Sean Backman. Mathieu Tousignant was up next just past the halfway point of the period, collecting his 10th of the year on a backhand as he toppled over in front of the net. The crowd was back in it as the score was set at 4-3.

Sceviour salted it away with his second of the night, deflecting in a rebound from a Greg Rallo shot for a power play goal. Sceviour was named the first star of the game with two goals and an assist and a plus-2. Texas faces Grand Rapids again tomorrow night in what will surely be a chippy game between the two teams.

Tonight's lines:
Morin-Rallo-Backman
Sawada-Sceviour-Tousignant
Wathier-Roman-Gagnon
Gazdic-Chupp

Spang-Stephenson
Dillon-Fortunus
Monast-Ludwig
Benn

Bachman

Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Larsen (hip pointer, day-to-day)
McCulloch, Embach (scratched)
Vincour, Segal, Lukowich (callup)

Stars coach Glen Gulutzan confirmed that Larsen is day-to-day with a hip pointer. He will not play tomorrow but could see action next weekend.

Tonight's attendance was 6,094.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas v. Grand Rapids - March 25 2011

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