Texas Loses Ground in Playoff Race, Dropping 5-2 Contest in Grand Rapids

(Credit: Mark Newman/Grand Rapids Griffins)

Texas had its chances tonight but fell 5-2 in Grand Rapids, missing out on valuable points to keep themselves afloat in the division playoff race. The Stars went 0-for-6 on the power play, which is ranked #2 in the league overall. Philippe Desrosiers got the start and took the loss with 19 saves.

The Stars lost the advantage of games-in-hand against Rockford with the loss and will dip to 5th in the division heading back to Texas for the weekend.

Grand Rapids jumped out to the early lead as Texas took two penalties in quick succession in the first. With 1:53 of 5-on-3, the Griffins opened the scoring easily. It was a tough beat as Condra's penalty was preventing a sure goal. You'll take that chance every time.

The Stars evened up with Justin Dowling being the beneficiary of a big bounce. The Stars' captain was able to backhand the puck into the empty net after Niklas Hansson's initial shot was deflected off Michael Mersch and Patrick Rybar and directly to him.

Texas would go up 2-1 to start the second with Michael Mersch going hard to the net, bowling over Rybar but not before potting his 18th of the year.

Grand Rapids re-gained the tie on the power play as Chris Terry found Martin Frk on a delicious seam pass. Philippe Desrosiers had no chance on the play as Terry faked the shot but made the pass. Terry got another assist on the Griffins' third goal, putting the puck on the stick of Carter Camper, who rushed the net and got Desrosiers moving left to right to open up just enough for the goal.

Christoffer Ehn salted the game away in the third period late off another pass from Chris Terry. The vet forward Terry would get a goal of his own, his fifth point of the night, into the empty net to add insult to injury. Texas plays the Rampage twice this weekend starting in San Antonio on Saturday.

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

Bayreuther-Hanley
Heatherington-Hansson
Hanna-Gleason

Desrosiers

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

Tonight’s attendance was 7,980.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at Grand Rapids - March 6 2019