Hamilton Bests Texas 4-3 to Stay Alive in Playoff Race

Jussi Rynnas stops 32 but takes loss in return to lineup
Mike Condon (Credit: Christina Shapiro/Texas Stars)
Texas saw a four-game winning streak halted tonight as the Hamilton Bulldogs made their first visit of the season to the Cedar Park Center. Texas had the upper hand in the third period, but two goals by the Bulldogs put them over by a 4-3 final tally.

"It was a tough game for us coming off the road trip with 17 hour travel day on Wednesday," said Coach Laxdal. "If you look at our body of work, I didn't like it. Our heads weren't into it and we didn't do a lot of great things. We had a 3-2 lead in the third period and the last two goals were major breakdowns."

If the Stars had been able to at least tie the game to make it to overtime, they would have clinched a spot in the Calder Cup playoffs. Now that will have to wait until tomorrow, when these two teams face again.

Rookie Mike Condon had a solid night in net for the Bulldogs, stopping 41 against Texas including 18 in the final frame.

Nick Sorkin scored the opening and game-winner goals for the Bulldogs in the back-and-forth affair. The two teams were never separated by more than a goal.

Branden Troock opened the scoring for Texas in the first with a tip play off a Julius Honka shot. Derek Hulak had a goal you'll need to go watch on the highlight reel where he tipped the puck out of midair behind Condon and into the net. The Stars final goal was a bad angle shot on Condon that went in completely uncontested off the stick of Justin Dowling.

The Stars were 1/2 on the power play and held Hamilton scoreless on three power plays.

Tonight's lines:
Hulak-Morin-Rallo
McKenzie-Dowling-Ritchie
Glennie-Shore-Ranford
Troock-Smith-Henderson

Fortunus-Oleksiak
Mangene-Bystrom
Gaunce-Honka

Rynnas

Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Valentine, Stransky (scratch)
Faksa, Meech (injury)

Tonight's attendance was 5,696.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas v. Hamilton - April 10 2015

Comments

  1. I didn't agree with Laxdal's decision to play Rynnas last night. I would have started Jack, who's got the hot glove recently and put Rynnas in for Saturday. I agree Rynnas needs a start this weekend but give him Saturday to either play a tired Condon or thier backup with slightly worse numbers. Jack has been earning his stars. I hope to see Jack tonight.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I agree. Let Jack get the chance to clinch and put Jussi in for the second chance. And anyone else think Oleksiak looked like he didn't want to be there last night? Totally uninspired play until Travis started barking at him.

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