Barons Crush Stars 6-1 in First Visit to Oklahoma

It was not a good night for Austin hockey fans. Whether it was rust or just a good Oklahoma City team getting all the bounces, the Stars first visit to Cox Convention Center was not a memorable one.

Texas opened the scoring early in the first period with Greg Rallo getting his first goal of the year on a tip from Philip Larsen's point shot just 69 seconds into the game. The Barons' Chris Vandevelde evened the score 11 minutes later with his 2nd of the year. Seemingly with the tie in hand heading to the locker room, Linus Omark got the lead for OKC with only 1:02 left in the period. Texas led on shots in first frame 10-8.

They often say that when it rains it pours. Texas just needed to get out of the second period. Chris McDonald scored 8:50 into the period but then the Barons just added insult to injury in the end of the second. Motin and Moran added to the Barons scoresheet with tallies just 48 seconds apart with 2 minutes left in the game. Moran's tally was a power play marker. Krahn would not return for the 3rd period.

Richard Bachman came out for the third period but that didn't stop Oklahoma City. On the penalty kill, Chris Vandevelde got his second of the night. No one tracked back with the Barons forward who potted the shorthanded goal off a big initial shot rebound off Bachman. Texas appeared to have gotten one back in the last five minutes of the game but the goal was called back due to the net being knocked off its moorings. Texas squandered two late 5-on-3s that could have been used to build confidence into tomorrow night if nothing else.

From all accounts, Texas did not do all that poorly. There were not any glaring issues on the scoresheet or in the game call. Texas seemed to lack a consistent offensive attack and played a little listlessly. Truly the Stars were in the game until the end of the second period when OKC got back-to-back goals to go into the third intermission. The Stars will hope to do better against the West Conference's worst team, the Toronto Marlies.

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

Benn-Fortunus
Larsen-Lukowich
Stephenson-Tr. Ludwig

Krahn

Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Spang, Backman (scratched)
Sawada, McCulloch (undisclosed injury)
Blindenbacher (concussion-like symptoms)

Tonight's attendance was 5,490. For reference, the Cox Convention Center holds 13,399 for ice hockey.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at Oklahoma City - November 5 2010

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