Texas Stars Can't Find Third Period Equalizer in 2-1 Loss to Gulls

The Texas Stars made a solid third period push but fell on the road to the red hot San Diego Gulls 2-1. In his first game back after a handful of games in the NHL, Erik Condra scored the lone goal for the Stars. His tally came on a second period power play bringing his season total to fifteen.

A rough first period was where the Stars were undone in this contest. They took two penalties in the frame, leading to several chances that Landon Bow handled admirably. Bow did all he could in the effort, finishing with 28 saves.

Just after the second power play expired with less than five minutes left in the opening period, Gulls winger Corey Tropp was served a wide open net on a slick cross ice feed to open the scoring. When the Stars had a chance to knot the game up on a power play chance a couple minutes later, they turned the puck over in the neutral zone, and it led to a shorthanded goal from former Dallas Star Adam Cracknell.

Stars head coach Derek Laxdal doesn’t read too much into shot totals as a helpful metric, but the Stars were outshot 15-3 in the first period. It’s hard to win on the road that way.

Condra’s maker came with three and a half minutes left in the middle frame. Justin Dowling set him up in the slot, and Gavin Bayreuther notched the secondary helper.

In the third period, Joel L’Esperance caught a stick up high, requiring stitches for the standout rookie. The ensuing double minor in the third period gave the Stars a chance to tie, but it felt like the game was lost when the clock ran out on the man advantage. They did make a decent push to finish out the period, but Gulls goaltender Kevin Boyle got the better of them.

The Stars continue their West Coast swing on Friday night against the San Jose Barracuda. The puck drops at 9:00 PM CST.

Tonight's lines:
Gurianov-Dowling-Mersch
Morin-L’Esperance-Condra
Caamano-Hargrove-Mascherin
Laberge-Phelan-Markison

Heatherington-Hansson
Bayreuther-Hanley
Hanna-Gleason

Bow

Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Scarlett (season-ending ACL injury)
Payne, Gluchowski, McClure, Calderone (scratch)

Tonight’s attendance was 7,207.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at San Diego - January 16 2019

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