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| Justin Dowling's game-tying goal (Credit: Christina Shapiro/Texas Stars) |
"Honka was in a perfect spot to score," said Justin Dowling, who scored the tying goal himself. "He made the right play to beat the defenseman and hit the backside."
John Muse was not spectacular early, stopping just three of his first six shots. He finished 9 for 13 before Maxime Lagace spelled him in the third period. Lagace earned the win with a six save performance. It's not a great sign for the veteran Muse as he is being looked at as the de facto starter for the moment with Jack Campbell injured in Dallas.
Stephen Johns, Brendan Ranford and Devin Shore also scored for Texas. The Stars finished their preseason slate with a 1-1 record and start the regular season this Saturday against San Antonio again.
Here's the release:
After both teams traded goals throughout the entire game, the Texas Stars pulled out a last-second win over the rival San Antonio Rampage on Sunday evening in a 5-4, overtime finish at Cedar Park Center to close out their preseason schedule.
Justin Dowling setup Julius Honka with 1.9 seconds left on a backdoor pass to beat Rampage goaltender Calvin Pickard in the extra frame. The Stars and Rampage split their two preseason games over the weekend, and the two teams will hook up again on Saturday in their respective regular season openers to the 2015-16 campaign.
With the Stars trailing 4-3, Dowling forced the extra frame with a minute left in regulation when his sharp-angled shot from the left side of the net snuck through the legs of Pickard. Texas played catch-up all game long erasing San Antonio leads of 2-1, 3-2, and 4-3 before taking the overtime win.
Stephen Johns opened up the scoring at 3:21 of the first period on a deflected shot from the right point. The Rampage tallied two of their own to take their first lead of the night with goals from Colin Smith on the power play at 10:41 and Mason Geertsen at 13:42. Brendan Ranford touched home a power play goal for the Stars to tie the game at 2-2 with 3:29 left in the frame, but the Rampage capped off the offensive first period with a power play goal from Chris Bigras with just under a minute remaining.
Devin Shore knotted the score again on a wrist shot from the slot midway through the second, but Brett Perlini banged home a loose pick in front at 18:37 to push the Rampage in front again.
John Muse took the start in net for Texas, going nine of 13 in just under 40 minutes of play. Maxime Lagace came on in relief to start the third and earned the win after stopping all six shots he faced. Pickard suffered the loss stopping 25 of 30 in net for the Rampage.
San Antonio went 2-for-3 on the power play. The Stars went 1-for-3.
Tonight's lines:
Dickinson-Morin-Ranford
Shore-Dowling-Elie
Hulak-Faksa-Troock
Kane-Smith-Stransky
Lindell-Honka
Bystrom-Johns
Backman-Blacker
Muse
Lagace
Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Ully, Eller, Molin, Braes, Peters, Rallo, Magee, Evans, Mangene, Desrosiers
Tonight's attendance was not announced.
Sorry, late response.
ReplyDeleteGood game, Shore-Dowling-Elie line was very noticeable and played exceptionally well, Dowling seemed to be in the right spot constantly.
Bystrom and Johns were noticeable... Johns seemed to be trying to do everything... and mostly succeeding, a couple times, seemed like he put himself out of position.
Ranford was buzzing really well that night too.
The first two goals against Muse were very difficult shots... I swear the second goal was tapped in from above the crossbar...
Lagace has yet to allow a goal while I've seen him... 1 period in the scrimmage and tonight's game, so I suppose small sample size COULD be argued....The team just limits shots whenever Lagace is in the crease.