Rookie Derek Hulak Scores Hat Trick as Texas Pastes Charlotte, 8-2

Defenseman John Klingberg, forward Scott Glennie finish with three points each as well
Derek Hulak scores one of his three goals. (Credit: Gregg Forwerck/Charlotte Checkers)
The Stars blew up the offense in Charlotte this evening thanks to a six minute span in the first period that saw them pot five goals. With Curtis McKenzie in Dallas, rookie Derek Hulak got a chance on the first line and made the most of it. The rookie scored his first professional hat trick, including two power play goals. To add to the good feeling, Jussi Rynnas got the start and allowed a two goals on 32 shots against. That was a welcome result as the goalie got the first back-to-back start of either tender so far this season.

Texas is looking like it will need another forward before Monday's rematch though. Gemel Smith was sucker punched in the first period by Carter Sandlak and did not finish the game. I would expect Branden Troock to make the trip from Denver to Charlotte to play with Texas on Monday.

Hulak started his hat trick earlier in the first period. A cross-ice pass by Travis Morin was finished off by Hulak to beat Drew MacIntyre for the 1-0 lead. Just 36 seconds later, Justin Dowling would beat MacIntyre over the shoulder off the pass from Scott Glennie. Less than two minutes after that, John Klingberg snapped a wrister on net for his fourth of the season and the 3-0 lead.

Radek Faksa's second of the year just past the halfway mark of the first ended Drew MacIntyre's night. It was a rather unceremonious end for what was a rematch of the epic Western Conference Final goalie battle. John Muse took over and did not fair much better. MacIntyre finished at five saves on nine shots.

Muse allowed his first of the night just over two minutes into his stay in the Charlotte net. Brendan Ranford tapped in an effort by Justin Dowling at the net, and it was 5-0.

As the period ended, Carter Sandlak got into it with Gemel Smith, dropping the gloves and sucker punching the young forward. Smith was able to leave the ice under his own power but did not play the rest of the night. Sandlak was given a match penalty, which is automatically reviewed by the league.

In all, the Stars bombed the net with a 20-7 shots margin in the first.

A relatively quiet second period followed with only three combined goals. Derek Hulak got his second of the night and third of the season on the power play, again off the assist of Travis Morin. Less than a minute later, Jared Stall would scored to break up the shutout bid for Rynnas.

As the period wound down, Brett Sutter would take an elbowing call to load up the Texas power play. Hulak completed his hat trick there. Hulak is shaping up as a really good find for the Stars in the early season. The former University of Saskatchewan Husky is shaping up like Brendan Ranford did last year. Not sure what to expect at first but has a wicked nose for the net and can play top line minutes with alacrity.

In the third period, Texas concentrated on limiting Checkers' chances and keeping Rynnas' goals against down for the night. By the halfway point of the period, Texas was getting outshot 6-1. The Stars' third shot of the period was another tally for the visitors. Scott Glennie got his third point of the night with the goal, his first of the season. AJ Jenks would score for Charlotte just over a minute later on a very lucky shot, threading the needle between Rynnas and the post from a bad angle to cut the margin to 8-2.

These two teams will play each other again on Monday in Charlotte.

Tonight's lines:
Hulak-Morin-Ritchie
Ranford-Dowling-Glennie
Rallo-Faksa-Henderson
Smith-Peters-Stransky

Meech-Klingberg
Gaunce-Fortunus
Honka-Jokipakka

Rynnas

Injuries, scratches, and notes:
McKenzie (call up)
Wrenn, Lagace (scratched)

Tonight's attendance was 7,656.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at Charlotte - November 8 2014

Comments

  1. What a phenomenal game! Solid defense, good passing, and wonderful goal tending. Something must have clicked for the Stars, this is closer to the style of play from the winning season. I'm glad that there is no main goal scorer, the whole team contributes.
    Quick question, why does Texas still have Legace if Rynnas and Campbell are healthy?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lagace is a man without a home right now. He's the backup's backup here and mostly just a practice goalie for the moment. Did you notice Texas has not announced him as a scratch the past few games? Not sure what they're going to do with him now.

      Delete
  2. Wasn't it last year we beat the tar out of them on the first of back to back games and the second they did the same to us?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes and that will make an appearance in the tomorrow's Gameday Preview.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Thanks for commenting. Remember to keep it civil. Using a name will help us identify replies and build a Texas Stars community.