Texas Loses Fourth Straight Road Contest by 5-1 Margin

Tom McCollum stopped 33 of 34 shots including this one by Chris Mueller.
(Credit: Grand Rapids Griffins)

A forgettable contest for the Texas Stars found them on the wrong side of a 5-1 score against the Grand Rapids Griffins. Texas allowed five goals against the defending Calder Cup champions for the second night in a row. The Stars extended their losing streak on the road to four games, tying their season high.

The Griffins put three past Allen York before Texas could muster any offense for themselves. Jyrki Jokipakka's first AHL goal came in the loss on the power play with a single assist to Scott Glennie.

Cory Emmerton started the scoring late in the first period, a slap shot with two minutes left in the frame. Marchenko kept things going with a wrister off the pass from Luke Glendening. Jarnkrok added insult to injury with his seventh of the year, a shot from the left wing circle that beat York through the pads.

Texas's only goal of the game came on the power play with two minutes left in the second period. With the Griffins Triston Grant in the box, Jokipakka slipped one past Tom McCollum to cut the lead to 3-1 for Grand Rapids.

Patrick Eaves put a damper on any comeback hopes with a goal just 24 seconds later to make it 4-1. The Stars outshot the Griffins 26-18 through two periods but trailed by three.

Patrick Eaves had the final goal of the game to salt the wound and set the final at 5-1.

Texas finished near even on shots at 35-34 for Grand Rapids. The issues are clearly shot quality and clearing out bodies in front of the net. The Stars are solid on possession, which can be extrapolated from their shots, but they allow too many high quality shots against.

The Stars are in action at Oklahoma City on Tuesday.

Tonight's lines:
McKenzie-Morin-Sceviour
Glennie-Mueller-Ritchie
Petersen-Dowling-Hedden
Wathier-Peters-Stransky

Nemeth-Wrenn
Jokipakka-Gaunce
Fortunus-Button

York

Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Oleksiak (callup)
Vause, Ranford, (scratch)
Campbell (injury)

Tonight's attendance was 5,749.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at Grand Rapids - November 30 2013