Stars Give Up Three Goal Lead In 5-4 OT Loss in Rochester

Curtis McKenzie (Credit: Micheline Veluvolu)
The Stars needed overtime to decide another contest but tonight ended up on the wrong side of the final score with a 5-4 loss in Rochester. Texas earned a 3-0 lead in the first period only to relinquish that lead and a 4-3 lead en route to the eventual one-goal OT loss. Cameron Gaunce and Matej Stransky each had a goal and an assist. Josh Robinson stopped 28 of 33.

The Texas Stars got off to a quick and significant start in the first period. Just 29 seconds in, Cameron Gaunce scored his second of the season witih a point shot straight down the middle of the ice off the faceoff win by Travis Morin. Seven minutes later, Matej Stransky put in his sixth of the year. Surrounded by three Amerks, the rookie Czech found the top corner against Nathan Lieuwen, just about the only spot where he had an opening. The period scoring was finished off with Colton Sceviour's 30th goal of the season. His swipe at the puck with just one hand on his stick put the rubber five hole on Lieuwen for the 3-0 lead.

The second period was nearly all Amerks. In the first 8:14 of the period, Rochester erased the Stars' lead completely. Texas started the period killing a full two-minute 5-on-3. They managed to kill it off but Phil Varone scored less than a minute later. The tip play in front came off the shot from AHL All-Star Luke Adam. It was a Teddy Bear Toss goal but didn't stop the momentum for Rochester. Another extended 5-on-3 for the Amerks set up their second goal. Just as the first penalty expired, Kevin Porter scored from the slot off the pass from Johan Larsson. The comeback was complete when Dan Catenacci walked around Derek Meech and scored his seventh of the year.

Luckily for the Stars, the newly combined rookie line of Brendan Ranford, Matej Stransky and Taylor Peters activated to send the club to the second intermission with a lead. Matej Stransky got obliterated on the right wing boards but chipped the puck ahead to setup a 2-on-1. Ranford passed to Peters, who got his fifth goal of the year and second point of the game.

Rochester evened things up in the third period as Colton Gillies got a stick on Joel Armia's initial shot from the right wing circle.

The Stars would need overtime again to settle things on the weekend. Texas gave up the game-winner off a bad line change that setup a four on two for the Amerks. Phil Varone got his second of the contest against Texas off the assist from former Aero Drew Bagnall.

Texas finishes the road trip tomorrow with another matinee against Toronto.

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

Oleksiak-Meech
Jokipakka-Gaunce
Labrie-Fortunus

Robinson

Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Wrenn, Nemeth, Wathier, Button (scratch)
Petersen, Campbell, Vause (injury)

Tonight's attendance was 5,657.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at Rochester - February 16 2014

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