Texas Earns First Win Off Landon Bow's 35 Save Night

(Credit: Shane Abbitt/Iowa Wild Photographer)

They needed a shootout to do it, but the Stars got their first victory of the season tonight in Iowa 2-1. Thanks to a masterful 35 save performance from Landon Bow, Texas earned a W and put their record at 1-2-1 after four games. Bow was smothering this evening and a bit lucky to boot. Late in the second period, he saw a Wild goal waved off for goalie interference.

The Stars had every chance to win this game in regulation and even more in OT thanks to a total of nine power plays, none of which would go for Texas. It didn't bite them in the end, but it has to be a point of emphasis this week as they've only scored one PPG so far this season.

The Stars had a few chances early in the contest. None were bigger than one on a wide open net late in the first. Jammed in tight, Texas redirected a bid from along the goal line down from the crossbar to the goal line. The puck seemingly just didn't want to go in, as it danced out.

The scoreless tie was broken up by rookie Jason Robertson on an unlikely scoring play. From below the goal line, Robertson banked a puck off the back of Wild netminder Mat Robson. It was an unassisted tally.

Shorthanded, the Wild had their best chance to even it early in the third. Bow stopped the initial shot and then kicked away the follow-up to keep it clean. The referees would look at the play, but the review held up as no goal.

Bow got unlucky in the third though as a hard kick off the endboards rebounded perfectly to Gabriel Dumont for the tying goal. It would take OT and and shootout to decide things from there as both Bow and Robson locked down their respective cages.

The Stars did have a golden opportunity in overtime with a 4-minute high sticking minor called against Iowa. Again, nothing would come of it.

In the shootout, Denis Gurianov and Tanner Kero scored while Bow stopped 2 of 3 for the victory.

Texas is idle until next Friday at home against Grand Rapids.

Tonight's lines:
Robertson-Kero-Gurianov
Mersch-Melnick-McClure
Mascherin-Kiviranta
Tufte-Cugglieta-Felhaber

Heatherington-Cecconi
Djuse-Bayreuther
Gleason-Scarlett
Nyberg

Bow

Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Calderone, Bleackley, MacKay (scratch)
Caamano, Gardner, L’Esperance, Hanley (call-up)

Tonight’s attendance was 5,460.

AHL Gamesheet - Texas at Iowa - October 12 2019