Stars Earn Point But Drop Third Straight After Leading Early

Brett Ritchie and Joshua Shalla jockey for position on a puck. (Credit: Scott Paulus/Milwaukee Admirals)
Texas got an early start for the third time on their Midwest trip but faltered late to hand the Admirals the win in overtime. After an early two goals, the Stars appeared to have things handled with that lead maintained into the third period. However, two third period goals from Milwaukee took the game to extra time. A goal off the rush by Mark Van Guilder ended the Stars' night in defeat.

Cristopher Nilstorp had 22 saves on 25 shots. Tonight's single point was the first of the Stars' road trip.

Colton Sceviour opened the scoring on the power play, assisted by Travis Morin and Curtis McKenzie. With Milwaukee's Scott Ford in the box, Sceviour backhanded the puck home for his eighth of the year and a 1-0 lead.

The Stars extended that lead just six minutes later with a audible tally for Brett Ritchie. The rookie blasted the puck off the post with a loud clang, and the bounce went into the net. Mike Hedden picked up a primary assist on the play and Jyrki Jokipakka a secondary.

Shots on goal were at a 7-1 advantage for Texas after the first goal. By the end of the period, things were much closer, an 11-10 advantage for the Stars.

A slow second period saw no scoring but several power plays. Milwaukee broke up the shutout bid in the third period with Anthony Bitetto's third of the year. Joonas Rask dropped the puck to Bitetto, who put it home top corner glove side on Nilstorp with five minutes into the third.

Former Texas Star Mathieu Tousignant's name was called quite a bit in the contest as he both took a penalty for checking to the head and drew one for roughing. No question he was motivated to play against his former club.

Tousignant also put up the primary assist on the game tying goal late in the third period. Austin Watson was unmarked in tight on Nilstorp. Tousignant found Watson, and Watson found twine behind the Swedish tender for the 2-2 score. Joonas Rask also picked up his second assist of the night on the play.

Texas attempted to get things going late, moving Mueller up to the first line with Morin and Sceviour, but the game went to OT. After an extended offensive zone visit by Texas, the Ads scored off the rush going the other way. Charles-Olivier Roussel put the puck on net and Mark Van Guilder collected the rebound for a 3-2 victory.

Texas plays again on Friday in Iowa.

Tonight's lines:
McKenzie-Morin-Sceviour
Hedden-Dowling-Ritchie
Ranford-Mueller-Smith
Wathier-Peters-Stransky

Oleksiak-Rome
Fortunus-Nemeth
Jokipakka-Gaunce

Nilstorp

Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Petersen, Wrenn, Glennie, Labrie (scratch)
Campbell (injury)

Petersen scratched due to the veteran rule tonight.

Tonight's attendance was 2,545.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at Milwaukee - October 30 2013

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