Stars Give Up Four Unanswered, Lose in Milwaukee

Colton Sissons (center) had two goals for Milwaukee in the comeback effort (Credit: Milwaukee Admirals)
Ed. Note - Unable to watch the game on Saturday.

After winning four straight, Texas dropped a disappointing match in Wisconsin on Saturday night. The Stars appeared to be off to the races early with goals in the sixth and seventh minute of the game. Rookies Curtis McKenzie and Taylor Peters had their third and first respective goals of their AHL careers. McKenzie's was a power play goal, but Peters found the net shorthanded.

Over the following 53 minutes, the Admirals ground down the Stars with four even-strength goals, including two from Colton Sissons.

Here's the release:
Taylor Peters scored a shorthanded goal in the first period for his first career professional goal, but the Texas Stars squandered an early 2-0 lead lost to the Milwaukee Admirals 4-2 Saturday night at BMO Harris Bradley Center.

Texas opened the scoring with its AHL-leading 11th power play goal of the season. Rookie Curtis McKenzie tipped a Travis Morin shot past Milwaukee goaltender Marek Mazanec at 6:05 for his third goal of the year, assisted by Morin and Maxime Fortunus. Just 87 seconds later it was 2-0 Stars when Taylor Peters scored his first professional goal at 7:32. With Austin Smith in the penalty box serving a hooking minor, Peters intercepted a clearing pass in the high slot of the Admirals zone and found the net on a hard wrist shot that beat Mazanec to the glove side.

The Admirals turned the tables when Colton Sissions sparked a rally with his third goal of the season just 3:25 into the second period. Late in the period Milwaukee tied the game as Mark Van Guilder’s centering feed took a fortuitous redirection off a Texas skate and found Joshua Shalla unmarked on the back post for an open-net tap-in at 15:49. The Admirals struck again a mere 1:13 later on Sissons second goal of the night, tipping in a pass by Taylor Beck from behind the net to make it 3-2 Milwaukee. Shortly after falling behind, Justin Dowling sent rookie Brett Ritchie off on a breakaway, but his bid to tie the game was thwarted by a strong glove save from Mazanec.

The Stars out-shot the Admirals 9-4 in the third period as they gallantly tried to level the score. With 4:45 remaining in regulation Milwaukee iced the game on a counter attack that saw Austin Watson rip a slap shot over the glove of Cristopher Nilstorp from the right circle to give the hosts a 4-2 win.

Rookie Marek Mazanec stopped 26-of-28 shots to record his second career AHL victory in goal for Milwaukee, while Cristopher Nilstorp made 19 saves on 23 shots and took the loss for Texas. The Stars out-shot the Admirals 28-23 in the game and went 1-for-4 on the power play; Milwaukee was 0-for-4 with the man-advantage.

Notes: Prior to the game Texas signed local Wisconsin-based goalie Billy Sias to an amateur tryout contract. The former Concordia University net minder dressed as the Stars’ emergency backup wearing the number 35 jersey. Josh Robinson was also recalled from Idaho prior to the game, but could not travel to Milwaukee in time to back up starter Cristopher Nilstorp. The Stars went 4-for-4 on the penalty kill to extend their penalty kill streak to 25-straight and are an AHL best 94.1% (32-for-34) while shorthanded. Travis Morin’s assist in the game extended his point streak to 15 straight regular season games.
Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Wathier, Wrenn, Glennie, Labrie (scratch)
Campbell (injury)

Texas signed Billy Sias on an ATO to backup Nilstorp. Josh Robinson was recalled as Jack Campbell is out with injury.

Tonight's attendance was 3,270.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at Milwaukee - October 26 2013

Comments

  1. I hate that we lost and that Campbell was injured, but what an awesome chance for a local player to get to play with the pros, even if just for practice and to ride the bench during the game! I'd love to read his blog for the day to see just how great an experience it was for him and what his friends and family thought.

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