Rookies Score But OKC Sneaks by Texas in OT 3-2

The Stars found themselves up 2-0 early but couldn't hold on against the West's top team. OKC completed the comeback with three unanswered goals, including Andrew Miller's overtime tally to win it. Texas suffered their league-worst 11th overtime loss.

Eric Faille scored his second AHL goal in as many games off a breakaway early. Julius Honka made the lead two with a slap shot in the second. A late Davidson score in the second and a PP marker from Jason Williams sent the game to OT.

Overall, the Stars had a tremendously successful road trip. They captured nine of twelve possible points and moved themselves from 10th place to firmly in 7th in the West. Two home games against Rockford loom this weekend before nearly a week off.

Here's the release:

Andrew Miller's wrist shot from the left circle snuck past Jussi Rynnas in overtime as the Oklahoma City Barons topped the Texas Stars in a 3-2 final on Tuesday night at Cox Convention Center, and brought a possible end to the West Division rivalry as the Barons will relocate to the AHL's Pacific Division next season.

Miller's goal provided the Barons (33-14-3-3) with their league-leading 13th overtime win of the season. Julius Honka tallied a goal and an assist to lead the Stars (25-17-11-1). Rynnas took the loss stopping 27 of 30 shots in net.

The Stars begin a season-long seven-game homestand on Friday against Rockford at 7:30 p.m.

Texas wasted little time to open up the scoring as Eric Faille scored for the second straight game on a breakaway to cap off a stretch pass through the neutral zone from Scott Valentine just 1:39 into the contest.

Honka picked up the second assist on the goal, and then added one of his own at 9:33 of the second when his slap shot across the blue line beat Laurent Brossoit for his sixth of the year. Brossoit would be perfect in net for the remainder of the game to earn the win and finished with 22 saves for the Barons. Brandon Davidson start the Oklahoma City comeback with just over a minute remaining in the middle period off a slap shot from the slot.

The offense remained quiet between both teams until the Barons took advantage of their sixth power play chance of the night late in the third, and Jason William buried his 16th of the year with 3:45 to play in regulation. Miller's game-winner ended the fifth overtime matchup between the Stars and Barons this season. Seven of the 12 total matchups were decided by just a goal.

Texas finished 0-for-4 on the power play while the Barons went 1-for-6. It was the second time in the last 19 road games the Stars had given up a power play goal. There is a chance the two rivals could meet in a playoff series later this year.

Tonight's lines:
Glennie-Dowling-Smith
Ranford-Morin-Rallo
Stransky-Faille-Henderson
Peters-Root-Mangene

Gaunce-Oleksiak
Meech-Nemeth
Honka-Valentine

Rynnas

Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Jokipakka, McKenzie, Ritchie (call up)
Troock, Wrenn, Hulak (scratch)
Fortunus, Faksa (injury)

Tonight's attendance was 1,905.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at Oklahoma City - February 24 2015