Stars Win 4-1 in Charlotte on First Third Period Comeback of the Year

Ranford's two goals help Texas to three game win streak

After seeing 3rd period leads collapse through much of the first three months of their season, the Stars got a huge win by coming from behind in the third period for the first time this season. Coming into tonight's contest, Texas was 0-10-3-0 when trailing after two periods. Facing a 1-0 deficit after forty, Brendan Ranford put in two goals on the night, and Gemel Smith tallied his fourth goal of the year, all in the past week.

An uneventful first period saw the teams head to the locker room scoreless after twenty. Matej Stransky had the only penalty for either team in the frame, which Texas killed off.

Justin Shugg got the opening tally for the Checkers, his team-leading eleventh of the season. The winger broke in alone and defeated Jussi Rynnas backhand five hole with Scott Valentine and Connor Hardowa a few strides behind in pursuit.

Texas came alive in the third period to spur the come-from-behind victory. Brendan Ranford's one-timer off the pass from Derek Meech got it started early in the frame. In the back half of the periood, the Stars scored three more times within five minutes.

Gemel Smith, off the pass from Matej Stransky, put in his fourth of the year at 13:40. Brendan Ranford went again with a nice toe drag move to beat John Muse for the 3-1 lead just under two minutes later. Charlotte emptied the net to try for the comeback. Before many had even noticed the missing goalie, Texas had earned possession and Radek Faksa collected his fourth of the year into the yawning cage.

The Stars stay in town to play Charlotte again tomorrow at 2 PM Central.

Tonight's lines:
McKenzie-Smith-Stransky
Henderson-Faksa-Rallo
Ranford-Glennie-Hulak
Troock-Root-Peters

Gaunce-Fortunus
Mangene-Meech
Valentine-Hardowa

Rynnas

Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Morin, Ritchie (call up)
Wrenn, Jokipakka, Honka, Dalhuisen (scratch)
Dowling (injury)

Taylor Stefishen was released by Texas from his PTO before the game.

Tonight's attendance was 7,133.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at Charlotte - January 3 2015

Comments

  1. Nice win and hopefully we are seeing this team find themselves.

    ReplyDelete

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