Ritchie's Hat Trick Highlights Complete Game Over Stockton

(Credit: Christina Shapiro/Texas Stars)

If you were wondering who was going to replace the lost offense following Devin Shore's injury, Brett Ritchie has an answer for you. After starting the season on the IR, Ritchie potted a hat trick in tonight's game to help Texas top Stockton by a 5-2 final.

"Ritchie is a trigger man," said Derek Laxdal. "He's a scorer and he's got a bomb of a shot."

The Stars got themselves a really solid all around effort after last night's disappointing outcome. They scored five, allowed only two, scored twice on the power play, had a clean sheet on the PK and piked up three fights against a physical team.

"I thought our guys really responded after last night," said Derek Laxdal. "[The Heat] play big and physical and our guys stepped up."

Brett Ritchie started his night early with a goal just 80 seconds into the contest off the centering pass from Justin Dowling. Radek Faksa added his third of the weekend off a rebound before the end of the frame.

Julius Honka kept his scoring ways going with a power play tally. The Heat answered back with their first of the night with 6 minutes left in the second. Brett Ritchie restored the three goal lead with another power play goal to end 40 up 4-1.

The physical game was highlighted by three fights, certainly the most this Texas team has seen in a while. Brennan Evans, Curtis McKenzie, and Jason Dickinson dropped the gloves in the first, second and third periods respectively.

Texas finishes the weekend set with a game in San Antonio tomorrow afternoon.

Tonight's lines:
McKenzie-Morin-Ranford
Dickinson-Faksa-Stransky
Hulak-Dowling-Ritchie
Elie-Kane-Rallo

Lindell-Honka
Bystrom-Johns
Blacker-Evans

Muse

Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Troock, Shore (injury)
Backman, Mangene (scratch)

Jesse Blacker was injured in the game, a lower body injury, and will likely be out tomorrow. The Stars have Mangene and Backman to slide in for him though.

Tonight's attendance was 4,746.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas v. Charlotte - December 11 2015