Mike McKenna's Shutout Helps Stars Gut Out 1-0 Win Over Admirals

Colin Markison protects the puck against Alexandre Carrier.
(credit: Jeff Hanisch/Milwaukee Admirals)

The Texas Stars got back in the win column against the Milwaukee Admirals, winning 1-0 in a low-scoring goaltender duel on Saturday. Sheldon Dries scored the lone goal in the opening minutes of the game, and the rest was heroics from Mike McKenna and Anders Lindback in their respective nets.

Dries broke his double digit game scoring drought and picked up his 10th goal of the season in impressively strange fashion. To open the scoring two minutes into the game, he batted the puck out of the air after it bounced off the end boards to beat former Star  Lindback.

Mike McKenna had a 27 save shutout in what was probably his best game of the season, and the Stars needed every bit of it. Both goalies traded big saves for the rest of the first period.

The recent Stars acquisition and former Admiral Tyler Kelleher served time in the penalty box on a too many men penalty and a slashing minor in the second period. Both teams had three power play chances heading into the second intermission without cashing in.

McKenna had to step up on a shot from the slot to keep the the Stars ahead and preserve his shutout bid in the last two minutes of the middle frame. The Admirals edged the Stars in shots up to that point 19-17.

The game-tying goal continued to elude the Admirals as McKenna frustrated their forwards, particularly on the penalty kill. He even managed to freeze a puck that was put on net when he was without his stick. The numbers ought to improve a bit for the Stars 27th ranked penalty kill after they were successful on five consecutive kills in the game.

Lindback was just as good as McKenna down the stretch. With two minutes left in the final period, he made a big save on Roope Hintz from the slot. His lone blemish of the day, if you could call it that, was the goal from Dries which was enough to put the Admirals away.

The Stars continue their swing through the Central division with the first of a back-to-back set against the Iowa Wild on Sunday. The puck drops at 3:00 PM CST.

Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Scarlett, Paliotta (scratch)
McKenzie (injured)

Today's attendance was 5,911.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at Milwaukee - February 17 2018