Mike Sislo's OT Winner Lifts Roadrunners Over Stars 2-1

Carter Camper tees off on his opening power play goal
(credit: Tucson Roadrunners)

The Texas Stars collected a point in the standings in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Pacific division leading Tucson Roadrunners. It was a familiar result with an identical score to the last game these two teams played in February. Uncannily, winger Mike Sislo scored the game winner in both games.

In a stroke of good fortune, the Stars got their captain back with Curtis McKenzie drawing into the lineup after weeks of nursing a leg injury. Though he did not have much of an impact, his presence had to be a welcome sight to a team jostling for playoff positioning.

The player who did have an impact for the Stars was Landon Bow (25 saves). He was the sole reason the Stars were competitive throughout their penalty riddled night as his team was heavily outshot 27-16.

The Stars flirted with disaster too many times on special teams, spending 12 minutes shorthanded against Tucson's sixth ranked power play unit led by their dangerous forward group. Due to Bow's effort, the Stars did kill off five of those penalties, but Travis Morin's double minor for high sticking in the second period was too much to overcome.

On the back half of the four minute span, recent acquisition Carter Camper broke open the scoring on a shot that hit the crossbar and went in six minutes into the middle frame. It was Camper's first goal in a Roadrunners uniform.

With six minutes left in the second period, Samuel Laberge scored the equalizer for his fifth goal of the year when he deflected Dillon Heatherington's shot from the point. Early in the third period, the Stars endured a bit of a scare when Morin was cross checked into the boards by Lawson Crouse. He stayed on the ice for a few moments but quickly joined the ensuing power play.

Sislo's goal came two minutes into overtime and underwent a lengthy review. The shot rang off the post, hit Bow's back and trickled into the net. It was initially unclear if the puck crossed the line, but the call on the ice was upheld.

The Stars wrap up the back-to-back set against the Roadrunners on Saturday. The puck drops at 8:05 PM CST.

Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Kelleher, Scarlett, French, Rallo, Paliotta (scratch)
Dickinson, McKenna (call-up)

Today's attendance was 4,231.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at Tucson - March 9 2018