Five Losses in a Row as Texas Drops Shootout to Rampage

Tomas Vincour had two goals in the contest. (Credit: Josh Rasmussen)

Looking for a good game against the Rampage, Texas dropped a 5-4 contest in the shootout to set their losing streak at five games, the longest of the season. Though the Stars lost top scorer Matt Fraser to recall earlier in the day, any questions about offense were settled by the four goal outburst, including two from Tomas Vincour. A twelve round shootout settled the final score after Texas allowed a shorthanded goal in the final five minute to tie the game.

"It's up to us to find the way to get the two points," said captain Maxime Frotunus, who returned from injury and scored a goal on the power play. "Until the end of the season, every game is a playoff game. You have to find a way to win."

"Right now, our chances just aren't going," added Tomas Vincour.

Texas opened the scoring with Vincour's 12th of the year, a power play goal that saw William Wrenn collect his first AHL point. Vincour's one-timer was quickly answered by former Star Greg Rallo. His screened shot from the high slot tied things up at one after the first.

Opening the second was San Antonio, scoring off a frentic series where they twice hit the post before scoring to make it 2-1.

The Stars scored two of their own next as fourth year forward Colton Sceviour got into the action. The rebound goal collected off the initial shot from Tyler Sloan was his 15th of the year. A two-man advantage to open the third period yielded the night's third goal, a rebound tally and his 13th of the year in 47 games' work.

The Stars and Rampage traded goals, rather unfortunately for the home side, as the third period wore on. San Antonio tied it up on Jed Ortmeyer's 4th of the year off a drop pass from Lee. Scott Glennie was hooked down on the preceding play, but no call came to save the Stars from the goal against.

Maxime Fortunus scored his sixth of the year on the power play from the point with assists from Hedden and Chiasson. With just under five minutes left in the game, the goal from the captain should have sealed up the game.

"We had four minutes left and up 4-3. We can't get scored on there," said Vincour.

Rallo scored his second of the night pushing up on the penalty kill and scoring shorthanded to tie things at four. Despite outshooting San Antonio 30-12 in the final two periods, both clubs would score three goals.

In a season that has had several tremendously long shootouts, Texas broke their own record set this season for length. Going twelve rounds deep, the Stars struck a lot of posts and came out on the short side 3-2 when Jed Ortmeyer converted his chance and Doug Jones failed to do the same.

Syracuse slipped past the Stars with a win and two points to move to 77. Charlotte, at 73 points, has two games before the Stars play again, both at home and against the Aeros.

Tonight's lines:
Petersen-Morin-Sceviour
Hedden-Chiasson-Glennie
Vincour-Wandell-Jones
Fyten-Vause-Cameron

Labrie-Wrenn
Sneep-Baldwin
Fortunus-Sloan

Nilstorp

Injuries, scratches, and notes:
R. Smith, Roussel, Benn, Oleksiak, Fraser, Wathier (call up)
Nemeth, Gazdic, Dowling (injured)
Coyle, Tousignant, Johnston (scratch)

Texas got Glennie and Fortunus back and healthy tonight.

Tonight's attendance was 5,225.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas v. San Antonio - March 8 2013