Key Timeout Spurs Texas Stars Past San Antonio Rampage 6-4

(Credit: Josh Jordan/AHL)

Another well-timed timeout by the Texas coaching staff helped to re-center the club and push them past in-state rival San Antontio 6-4 tonight. After ceding a 4-2 lead, the Stars took a timeout and scored the next two to regain their advantage, which would be the final.

Denis Gurianov and Niklas Hansson each had three-point nights, and several others had two in the contest. Landon Bow picked up a rare road win, just his fifth of the season, stopping 22 shots. Texas got scoring from all over the lineup, including a game-winner from rookie Tony Calderone and the reappearance of the streaky scorer Adam Mascherin, who had two points.

San Antonio would open the scoring with a fluky bouncing puck beating Bow. The Stars would answer with a slapshot goal from Denis Gurianov, shown below.

Just as Texas power play expired in the second, Niklas Hansson found twine from the point to go up 2-1. San Antonio would jump back to tie things just three minutes later. The Stars built a solid lead heading into the second intermission with Adam Mashcerin and Gurianov potting one each in the back half of the frame.

Things got hairy to start the third. A power play goal off a pass from below the goal line cut the lead to 4-3 and then the lead evaporated entirely at 4-4 on a breaking play toward Bow.

Cue the timeout. Re-center. Collect yourself.

Out of the timeout, the bottom six put up the goals Texas needed to emerge victorious. Tony Calderone tapped in a rolling puck, and Colton Hargrove scored on a pretty harmless looking play to break the back of the surging Rampage and regain the two-goal lead.

Texas earned the full two points with the win and just as importantly prevented San Antonio from collecting any loser points. These two clubs face off tomorrow at 5 PM in Cedar Park.

Tonight's lines:
Mersch-Dowling-Gurianov
Caamano-Morin-Condra
Mascherin-Payne-McClure
Markison-Hargrove-Calderone

Bayreuther-Hanley
Heatherington-Hansson
Nyberg-Gleason

Bow

Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Scarlett (season-ending ACL injury)
Laberge (upper body)
Phelan, Hanna (scratch)

Tonight’s attendance was 6,568.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at San Antonio - March 9 2019