Texas Earns Season Sweep of Milwaukee with 3-2 Road Shootout Win

(Credit: Scott Paulus/Milwaukee Admirals)

The Stars finished the season series with Milwaukee in fine fashion tonight as Justin Dowling's fifth round shootout attempt found twine against Marek Mazenec for a 3-2 final tonight in Wisconsin. Jack Campbell got the start and improved his record with a 34 save performance.

The Stars opened the scoring in the first period with a rebound goal off the stick of Derek Hulak. Justin Dowling got the initial shot but Hulak put it home for his 19th of the year. Rookie phenom Kevin Fiala made sure that didn't last long with an independent contractor effort five minutes later. The goal came off a Texas turnover and knotted things at one after twenty minutes.

Milwaukee took the lead in the second period on the power play. Texas ceded four opportunities in the game and broke on just this one chance. Austin Watson's deflection of an Anthony Bitetto point shot beat Campbell to make it 2-1. Travis Morin answered for Texas as Greg Rallo continued a strong week to send him the cross-crease pass for the goal.

The Stars survived a low-shooting seven minute overtime, an accomplishment for the squad this season, which already has 13 overtime losses. In the shootout, four of five Texas shooters scored on Mazanec. Derek Hulak, Travis Morin, Devin Shore and Justin Dowling all scored for Texas as the shootout extended to five rounds after being tied after the third and fourth.

With the win, Texas heads into Chicago tomorrow night with a magic number now down to 8.

Tonight's lines:
Ranford-Morin-Rallo
Hulak-Dowling-Ritchie
Glennie-Shore-Stransky
Troock-Smith-Henderson

Fortunus-Oleksiak
Gaunce-Bystrom
Valentine-Honka

Campbell

Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Mangene, McKenzie (scratch)
Rynnas, Faksa, Meech (injury)

Tonight's attendance was 5,303.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at Milwaukee - April 3 2015