Despite Shorthanded Goals, Texas Can't Solve Griffins in 6-3 Loss

Two shorthanded goals could not help Texas past the Grand Rapids Griffins as the Stars continued their discipline troubles. Texas handed the Griffins seven power play opportunities in the game. Although the Stars scored as many goals during these power plays as Grand Rapids (2 each), the physical drain of being on the power play for 14 minutes in the game was notable.

The Stars never held the lead in the contest as Grand Rapids jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first. Ethan Werek and Travis Morin would score shorthanded to make it 3-2 at the halfway mark of the game. The Griffins added two from there to set the final margin. Bryce Van Brabant would collect his first goal as a Star to give the team late life, but Colin Campbell extinguished it with an empty net goal.

Philippe Desrosiers got the start but was pulled after allowing three goals on 17 shots in the first. Maxime Lagace saw 15 shots in the second, stopping 14, and was 21 of 23 overall. The Stars allowed too many shots against a high-quality team tonight.

These two faceoff again on Friday. Texas is still in pursuit of its first win at Van Andel since the 2014 Calder Cup playoffs.

Tonight's lines:
Ranford-Morin-Stransky
Elie-Dickinson-DeFazio
Gurianov-Dowling-Werek
Van Brabant-McMurtry-Troock

Backman-Honka
Stevenson-Mangene
Ebert-Bodnarchuk

Desrosiers
Lagace

Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Smith (call up)
Ully (injury)
Fyten, Bystrom (scratch)

Tonight's attendance was 5,512.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at Grand Rapids - November 16 2016