Gazdic Returns From Injury to Push Stars Past Amerks 2-1

Luke Gazdic scores the game-winner in the second period. (Credit: Josh Rasmussen/Texas Stars)
Dressed in their military fatigues, the Stars got contributions from two players recently off injury to sneak past the Rochester Americans 2-1 at Cedar Park Center.

"I don't think it was one of our prettier games, but we battled hard," said Scott Glennie, who scored his third of the season.

Stars fourth-year forward Luke Gazdic scored the game winner for Texas on a tip in the second period. It was his first game back from a broken hand injury suffered in a fight in February. Gazdic was awarded his first number one Star honors of his Texas Stars career.

Richard Bachman had a better performance on the night than against San Antonio, stopping 29 of 30 shots against. David Leggio had his hands full at the other end with 41 Texas Stars shots on his net.

The Stars move to 85 points with the win as Charlotte comes to town tomorrow to face the first-place Stars.

Texas stepped up first to score with Scott Glennie getting a goal that was very peculiar indeed.

"I haven't scored too many goals this year," said Glennie. "Someone shot a puck. It went off me, and it went in. We'll take anything."

All three Texas forwards and four Rochester skaters all crowded the crease with Americans' tender David Leggio after the initial Wathier shot. The puck bounced off Vause and Glennie on its way into the net. By the Stars own admission, it wasn't a pretty goal, but it set the score at 1-0 early in the first.

Late in the period, the Stars gave up their only goal against of the game. Shorthanded, the Rochester Americans rushed the net with less than 10 seconds left in the period. Phil Varone swooped behind the net, similarly to Cody Eakin's famous swoops in the early season, and dished the Mark Mancari in the slot. Mancari popped the puck home past Bachman with just 5.6 seconds left in the first.

The Stars regained their lead in the middle of the second period. "My stick was just in the right place," said Gazdic. "Wrenn had a great shot, and I just got a stick on it." William Wrenn had the initial shot from the point which Gazdic tipped home for the 2-1 lead. It was Gazdic's third goal of the season and first since February 9th.

Richard Bachman and the Texas defense came up big in the final period to keep the score set at 2-1. Bachman stopped twelve shots including a post-to-post stop on Zemgus Girgensons.

Tonight's lines:
Fraser-Morin-Sceviour
Hedden-Dowling-Chiasson
Wathier-Vause-Glennie
Gazdic-Petersen-Cameron

Labrie-Wrenn
Sneep-Baldwin
Fortunus-Sloan

Bachman

Injuries, scratches, and notes:
R. Smith, Roussel, Benn, Oleksiak, Vincour, Campbell (call up)
Nemeth, Nilstorp (injured)
Fyten, Tousignant, Wandell, Commodore (scratch)

Tonight's attendance was 4,658.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas v. Rochester - March 23 2013

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