Texas Stars Drop Tight Game to Manitoba Moose 2-1

Eric Comrie stops another puck (Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars)

The penalty kill continued to dog the Stars this evening as two PPGs from the visiting Moose downed Texas in a 2-1 final. Texas, which has the worst penalty kill in the league at 75.8%, has allowed at least one power play goal per game on average this season. The Stars managed ot keep shots under 30 but the high danger shots on the power play were the difference.

"We took too many penalties in the second period and lost a little bit of our momentum," said Coach Derek Laxdal after the game. "It was one of those tight games and a frustrating game for our guys. We felt like we were the better team, but their performance obviously dictated the result."

Texas had four chances on the power play but could not come through. The 23rd ranked Stars PP is "gripping their sticks a little too tight" now in response to the dry spell, according to Travis Morin. The captain had the home side's only goal, an even-strength tally in the 3rd period.

Morin summarized the game aptly, "I think we played well 5-on-5 and limited their opportunities in that aspect of the game. Again, penalties killed us, and our lack of scoring on the power play killed us. It’s as simple as that."

Eric Comrie should have earned a star in the game, stopping all but Morin's bid and frustrating the Stars immensely in the process. Former Star Scott Glennie had two assists on the power play goals.

Texas stays in town to face Bakersfield this weekend.

Tonight's lines:
Stransky-Morin-Ranford
DeFazio-Smith-Elie
Herbert-Dickinson-Werek
Ully-Van Brabant-Fyten

Backman-Stevenson
Bodnarchuk-Ebert
Mangene-Bystrom

Bow

Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Honka (call up)
Gurianov, Anselmini (scratch)
Dowling (injury)

Tonight's attendance was 3,783.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas v. Manitoba - January 24 2017