Stars Get Late Goals to Beat Monsters, 3-2

Texas played a grinding first two periods without offense but did not disappoint the weekend crowd here in Cedar Park as they exploded for 3 goals in the third period.

Although there were no goals in the first period, there were several premium quality chances. Texas goaltender Brent Krahn calmly deflected all 12 Monsters shots in the period, including 3 in rapid succession late in the period. The second period was much of the same. Texas looked good in the period, even getting two shorthanded shots.

Lake Erie would score the game's first goal. Zach Cohen's shot bounced off the netminder to Mark Olver who had a wide open net on the left side. He buried it for a 1-0 lead. Six minutes later, Sean Backman would pot his first professional goal on a backhander rebound of Luke Gazdic's cram attempt. Tousignant also assisted.

However, with the goal still being announced in the building, Greg Mauldin would retake the lead for the Monsters. However, a Monster covered the puck in the crease on a frenetic play for Lake Erie and the Stars were awarded a penalty shot.

Coach Gulutzan asked who wanted it and Colton Sceviour piped up, "I'll take it." Sceviour, who was "shaking" out there with the game-tying goal looming in front of him, and decided to just go to his signature move. Asked after the game to describe his signature move, Sceviour commented, "If I tell it to you, all the goalies will know what it is." The signature move got the Stars the tying goal, a roofer on the backhand.

With the game poised to go to overtime, Texas Stars winger Francis Wathier willed a puck into the net on a wrap-around cram play with 40.9 seconds left remaining in the game. The Monsters' Mercier cracked his stick in half over his knee in frustration after the play. Lake Erie would call a timeout but couldn't put together a play to take it to overtime.

Francis Wathier pointed to the success of the Stars' third and fourth lines as key in the game. Sean Backman, who is on the fourth line with Gazdic and Tousignant, scored his first professional goal. "They don't play a ton of ice, but they made it count tonight," said Wathier. "It pumped us up; I was pumped"

Tonight's lines:
McCulloch-Morin-Vincour
Wathier-Gagnon-Rallo
Sceviour-Roman-Brunnstrom
Gazdic-Tousignant-Backman

Larsen-Lukowich
Fortunus-Tr. Ludwig
Spang-Stephenson

Krahn

Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Benn, Blindenbacher, Chupp, King (scratched)
Sawada (undisclosed injury)

Tonight's attendance was 4,014.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas v. Lake Erie - October 22 2010

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