Rynnas Shuts Out Wild as Rallo Stays Hot for 2-0 Texas Win

Jussi Rynnas (Credit: Iowa Wild)

Needing four points to get themselves into prime position in the playoff race, Texas got those points and some big-time added confidence thanks to really solid goaltending from Jussi Rynnas. Rynnas' shutout was his fourth of the year. Greg Rallo also stayed hot with a goal in five straight games now.

Texas is still in 8th place but has a three point cushion on Adirondack, which is spiraling out of control at 3-6-1-0 in their last ten.

Here's the release:

Jussi Rynnas was perfect in net and Greg Rallo continued his scoring binge to lead the Texas Stars to their fourth shutout of the season in a 2-0 win over the Iowa Wild on Satuday night at Wells Fargo Arena in front of 9,107 in attendance.

Rynnas stopped 26 shots for his fourth shutout and 16th win of the year. Greg Rallo's first period goal held up as the game-winner and extended the veteran forward's goal-scoring streak to five games. Rallo has tallied six goals and eight points overall during the stretch. Rynnas has given up just a pair of goals over his last three stars, and has won six of his last eight for Texas.

Texas (23-16-10-1) continues their season-long road trip on Wednesday, when they visit Utica at 6 p.m.

Rallo buried Derek Hulak's crossing pass from the right circle at 10:06 of the first for his 17th of the season, and third goal in two games against Iowa (17-33-1-1). After a scoreless second, Brendan Ranford kept the Stars power play unit clicking with a wrist shot at 12:30 of the third from the right circle that banked off the crossbar for his 13th of the season.

The Stars finished 1-for-3 on the power play and have scored a man-advantage goal in 12 of their last 15 contests. Texas also continued their strong penalty killing on the road, holding the Wild scoreless in six power play chances.

Matt Mangene recorded the assist on Ranford's goal. Iowa's Johan Gustafsson took the loss, going 18 of 20 in net.

Tonight's lines:
Hulak-Smith-Rallo
Ranford-Dowling-Stransky
Troock-Faille-Henderson
Mangene-Peters-Root

Gaunce-Oleksiak
Meech-Honka
Wrenn-Valentine

Rynnas

Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Jokipakka, McKenzie, Morin, Ritchie (call up)
Fortunus, Faksa, Glennie (injury)

Tonight's attendance was 9,107.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at Iowa - February 14 2015