Texas Sweeps Season Series Against Chicago With 3-2 OT Win

(Credit: Dale Woltman/Chicago Wolves)

It would take overtime, but the Texas Stars managed to cap off their season series against the Wolves with a perfect 4-0 record. They moved back into first in the conference with the win, which was powered by two goals from new addition Kevin Henderson. Mike Hedden had the OT game winner off a pretty pass from Derek Meech.

Josh Robinson got the start, his first since February 16th, and won with 23 saves on 25 shots. He was awarded the second star of the game for the effort. Texas was 0-for-6 on the power play but also held the Wolves without a power play goal on two chances.

Chicago opened the scoring in this afternoon's game off a bad decision pass by rookie Star Chris Culligan. Texas was ready to break out but Culligan sent the puck up the ice where the pass was jumped by Sergey Andronov. Andronov easily sent it to Keith Aucoin on the left wing side. Josh Robinson had initially challenged Andronov and was completely out of the blue paint at the top of the crease. Aucoin had an easy shot at the open net for the 1-0 lead. It was the first lead for the Wolves in the season series.

Just 46 seconds later, Henderson got started on his day. First he jumped onto the scoresheet with a good honest forechecking effort. The pressure down low by Henderson created an unforced error on the exchange behind the net between Jake Allen and Taylor Chorney. Henderson nabbed the puck and slipped it into the yawning net for the 1-1 tie.

The Wolves appeared to retake their lead early in the second period on a cram play at the left post on Josh Robinson. The pyrotechnics went off and the goal song ensued at the Allstate Arena. However, the referees saw and the replay clearly showed that the Wolves had scored the goal with six men on the ice. With four at the blue line and two down low, Chicago was guilty of the too many men penalty, which negated the score.

Texas would not score on that power play but would find the net three seconds after it expired. Jamie Oleksiak ringed the puck around the boards to Taylor Vause behind the net. Vause walked out on the right wing side and backhanded the puck over to Kevin Henderson in the slot for his second goal of the game. He beat Allen on the blocker side to score his fourth point as a Star, all against Chicago.

Ty Rattie got his 24th of the year on a quick play from behind the net late in the third period. Texas failed to clear along the right wing board, allowing Andrew Bolduc to send a pass down to Nathan Longpre below the goal line. Longpre slipped the pass through Derek Meech and onto the stick of Ty Rattie, who put it far post on Robinson for the 2-2 tie. Scott Glennie was unable to get back into the play to lift the stick of Rattie on the play.

The Stars would make it to overtime but wouldn't need much of it to collect the full two points. Justin Dowling collected the puck from a fallen Taylor Chorney. He walked it toward the net but passed out to Derek Meech at the hashes. Meech skated out toward the left side of Allen, pulling the goalie out of the net, and then passed it back to an unguarded Mike Hedden who deposited it into the open net.

Texas plays in Iowa on Wednesday.

Tonight's lines:
Hedden-Dowling-Ritchie
Ranford-Jeffrey-Glennie
McKenzie-Culligan-Stransky
Henderson-Peters-Vause

Oleksiak-Gaunce
Nemeth-Meech
Jokipakka-Fortunus

Robinson

Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Sceviour, Nilstorp, Mueller, Morin (callup)
Wrenn, Labrie (scratch)
Petersen (injury)

Today's attendance was 7,203.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at Chicago - March 16 2014