The Texas Stars continued their improved play on Sunday evening, picking up a point in the standings but fell to the Central division leading Milwaukee Admirals in overtime 2-1.
“Obviously, Milwaukee's a very good hockey club,” said head coach Derek Laxdal. “The homestand has been pretty good here so far going 3-1, on it and we just got to continue to keep on pushing trying to get some points here.”
Adam Mascherin, who had been a healthy scratch last week, took some motivation into the contest and got the Stars on the board in the third period when they were desperate for a game-tying tally. Both Milwaukee goaltenders are top notch, and Mascherin displayed outstanding patience with a nifty toe drag in front of the net to force Connor Ingram to overcommit.
“I was kind of calling for [the puck] as a third man high, and I just ended up making a little toe drag there and snuck it in,” said Mascherin. “It was a pretty fun moment for me to get one.” The goal came at the eight and a half minute marker in the third period and gave the Stars a chance to steal it in overtime.
Up to that point, the Stars went 0-for-2 on the power play in the first period and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill in the middle frame for a stalemate on special teams. The kills were especially notable against a top-ranked power play unit in Milwaukee.
“We were down one and [Milwaukee] had a short 5-on-3,” noted Laxdal. For us to get through that, and kill the next 5-on-4 was big obviously against the best power play in the league. That's a very mature team over there; they've had a great start to the season. For us, I think this will give us some confidence moving forward. To get through that game, to get through some penalty kills, and you know to to grind out a point will only grow our confidence.”
The difference in the contest outside of special teams was the Admirals goal fourteen minutes into the first period. They fired a puck from distance and got a fortunate bounce off the end boards for an easy putback by Yakov Trenin. Trenin would go on to score the game winner on a 2-on-1 rush in overtime.
Aside from the first period, Landon Bow was solid in net again and gave the Stars a chance to win. “We just we talked about last week if you win you play, and he's been winning.”
Unfortunately for Bow and his teammates, they were unable to get the full two points in extended play. After earning their share of zone time in the overtime frame, Gavin Bayreuther fired a shot wide, sending the puck screaming around the boards. It resulted in a 2-on-1 the other way for Trenin’s second goal.
A couple of weeks ago, this Texas Stars team would likely have folded after giving up the first goal. For them to battle back against a stellar goaltender in Ingram and find the equalizer is huge for this team’s psyche right now. If they continue to play the way they did on Sunday, the points will come. Mascherin said as much after the game.
“I think we just have a group that knows we need to work for everything we're going to get, and I thought we worked real hard tonight. It's upsetting we only got one of two points, but it could be worse. We brought a good effort tonight and if we bring that on Tuesday, hopefully we'll have a better fate.”
The Stars take on the Ads again on Tuesday, a third game in four nights. Puck drop is at 7PM.
Tonight's lines:
Louis-L’Esperance-Mascherin
Robertson-Gardner-Caamano
Mersch-Melnick-Kiviranta
Tufte-Cuglietta-MacKay
Heatherington-Cecconi
Bayreuther-Scarlett
Hanley-Djuse
Bow
Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Gleason, Nyberg, Felhaber, McClure (scratch)
Kero (injury)
Tonight’s attendance was 3,911.
AHL Gamesheet - Texas v. Milwaukee - December 1 2019
“Obviously, Milwaukee's a very good hockey club,” said head coach Derek Laxdal. “The homestand has been pretty good here so far going 3-1, on it and we just got to continue to keep on pushing trying to get some points here.”
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| (credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars) |
Adam Mascherin, who had been a healthy scratch last week, took some motivation into the contest and got the Stars on the board in the third period when they were desperate for a game-tying tally. Both Milwaukee goaltenders are top notch, and Mascherin displayed outstanding patience with a nifty toe drag in front of the net to force Connor Ingram to overcommit.
“I was kind of calling for [the puck] as a third man high, and I just ended up making a little toe drag there and snuck it in,” said Mascherin. “It was a pretty fun moment for me to get one.” The goal came at the eight and a half minute marker in the third period and gave the Stars a chance to steal it in overtime.
Up to that point, the Stars went 0-for-2 on the power play in the first period and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill in the middle frame for a stalemate on special teams. The kills were especially notable against a top-ranked power play unit in Milwaukee.
“We were down one and [Milwaukee] had a short 5-on-3,” noted Laxdal. For us to get through that, and kill the next 5-on-4 was big obviously against the best power play in the league. That's a very mature team over there; they've had a great start to the season. For us, I think this will give us some confidence moving forward. To get through that game, to get through some penalty kills, and you know to to grind out a point will only grow our confidence.”
The difference in the contest outside of special teams was the Admirals goal fourteen minutes into the first period. They fired a puck from distance and got a fortunate bounce off the end boards for an easy putback by Yakov Trenin. Trenin would go on to score the game winner on a 2-on-1 rush in overtime.
Aside from the first period, Landon Bow was solid in net again and gave the Stars a chance to win. “We just we talked about last week if you win you play, and he's been winning.”
Unfortunately for Bow and his teammates, they were unable to get the full two points in extended play. After earning their share of zone time in the overtime frame, Gavin Bayreuther fired a shot wide, sending the puck screaming around the boards. It resulted in a 2-on-1 the other way for Trenin’s second goal.
A couple of weeks ago, this Texas Stars team would likely have folded after giving up the first goal. For them to battle back against a stellar goaltender in Ingram and find the equalizer is huge for this team’s psyche right now. If they continue to play the way they did on Sunday, the points will come. Mascherin said as much after the game.
“I think we just have a group that knows we need to work for everything we're going to get, and I thought we worked real hard tonight. It's upsetting we only got one of two points, but it could be worse. We brought a good effort tonight and if we bring that on Tuesday, hopefully we'll have a better fate.”
The Stars take on the Ads again on Tuesday, a third game in four nights. Puck drop is at 7PM.
Tonight's lines:
Louis-L’Esperance-Mascherin
Robertson-Gardner-Caamano
Mersch-Melnick-Kiviranta
Tufte-Cuglietta-MacKay
Heatherington-Cecconi
Bayreuther-Scarlett
Hanley-Djuse
Bow
Injuries, scratches, and notes:
Gleason, Nyberg, Felhaber, McClure (scratch)
Kero (injury)
Tonight’s attendance was 3,911.
AHL Gamesheet - Texas v. Milwaukee - December 1 2019
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