Branden Troock had two goals. (Credit: Christina Shapiro/Texas Stars) |
San Antonio opened the scoring with a quick shoveling backhand over a sprawled Maxime Lagace. Lagace had stopped the first shot but wasn't able to get to the second with traffic in front vying for the puck. Branden Troock poured it on to end the period. Troock, who is fighting to ensure he has a spot in Cedar Park this season, slipped a puck five-hole on Roman Will and then scored on a rebound to make it 2-1 to end the period.
The Rampage stepped up in the second period, scoring all three in the frame. Andreas Martinsen potted a power play goal to tie things up. Mid period, the goalies switched as Maxime Lagace gave way to Philippe Desrosiers. Shortly thereafter, former Star Brock Montgomery put the visitors in the lead at 3-2. Ben Street scored on a breakaway with a fantastic backhand move that perplexed Desrosiers, and it was 4-2.
The real story of the back half of the game was the truculence. Starting with a hit from Taylor Stefishen on Will Weber, the gloves were off. Stefishen fought Duncan Siemens immediately after the hit and later fought Weber himself, earning an ejection for two fights in a game. Cam Braes had a center ice bout that began with some circling before it degenerated into a pummeling with haymakers on both sides. The third period saw Andrew Panzarella fight Dan Maggio.
The Stars battled back with an extra attacker goal. Matt Mangene was the recipient of a nice pass from the left wing circle, which he wired to the net to make it 4-3 with 2:10 left in the third.
Texas attempted to get the tying goal late but their best chance, off the stick of Branden Troock, wouldn't go, ending the game with a 4-3 final.
These two teams will face off again on Sunday.
Tonight's lines:
Hulak-Smith-Troock
Kane-Magee-Ully
Beck-Peter-Stefishen
Braes-Shore-Molin
Martin-Mangene
Rutt-Blacker
Evans-Panzarella
Lagace
Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Tonight's attendance was not announced.
AHL Gamesheet - Texas v. Rockford - April 24 2015
I liked the way Lagace moved. I'd take him over Jack Campbell any day.
ReplyDeleteAlso, we need a guy who likes to fight. We are still a really (really!) small team, and last year a few teams really manhandled us on the ice. Having a guy who is willing to throw off the gloves twice in one night will stop some of this. I'm not sure he's really an enforcer, but if he'll throw knuckles to protect our players from bad hits, then sign him!
Fair point, but I ask you this to counter: who threw the knuckles the year Texas won the Cup?
DeleteThe year we won the Cup, we were the fastest team in the league, and we shot on goal like machine gun fire. Once you are no longer the fastest, your size issues become much more apparent... and since Laxdal's coaching style differs greatly from the style that won the Cup, the problem is yet further accentuated. We are way, way too small to contend. We need a scrappy fighter.
ReplyDeleteA completely reasonable argument. And on the internet no less!
DeleteDon't get me wrong - I am not a fan who goes to see fights. And I also don't think more penalty minutes is going to help us against some of the really bigger forechecking teams... but looking at the relatively diminutive stature of our defensive lines - someone who could fight sure wouldn't hurt.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they could train Campbell to punch? hahaha